Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Synopsis

During the Northern Song Dynasty, in a corner of Que'er Alley in Bianliang City, lived a family of five with vastly different personalities: Zhao Bu-you, Wen Yue, and their household. Zhao Bu-you was a low-ranking clerk in the Court of Judicial Review, content with leading a simple life, while his wife, Wen Yue, was determined to buy land and property. Despite their frequent quarrels, the family shared a harmonious bond.

An unexpected incident embroiled the family in the sensational "Plum Boat" case. As they unraveled one case after another, each family member showcased their unique talents, embarking on a remarkable journey of solving mysteries while addressing constant family issues and personal growth.

In the end, the family of five came to understand and accept one another, each gaining valuable growth. Together, they exposed the villain's hypocrisy and crimes, defending both their family’s happiness and the peace of the people in Bianliang.

Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Recap

Episode 1 Recap

As the Qingming Festival approached and the Bian River opened for navigation, a thousand grain ships from Zhejiang arrived in the Capital, the bustling East Capital of the Song Dynasty. Known as the center of the world, East Capital was ordered to celebrate for seven days, a national holiday for everyone. The city was vibrant with activity; drums echoed, lanterns illuminated the streets, and merchants lined the Bian River banks showcasing a dazzling array of goods.

People walked the streets admiring lanterns, offering prayers, and enjoying boat rides to see the sights along the river. Zhao Buyou, a Scribe Assistant at the Office of Justice, hurried towards Rainbow Bridge, too busy to appreciate the river views, where he had arranged to meet his family for the fireworks. Nearby, Zhang Zeduan, a Painting Adviser at the Hanlin Academy, was sketching the scene on the bridge.

He was jostled by the crowd and nearly fell, but Zhao Buyou quickly steadied him. Zhao Buyou looked at Zhang Zeduan's sketch and perceptively remarked it lacked "soul," then asked Zhang Zeduan if he would include his family in the painting later. Zhao Buyou secured a good spot on the bridge as his father, Zhao Li, arrived with his younger brother, Zhao Mo'er, and younger sister, Zhao Ban'er. When the auspicious time arrived, the authorities launched fireworks from the riverbank.

Colorful displays erupted in the sky, drawing cheers from the crowd. The Zhao family watched happily. A small boat slowly approached carrying Wen Yue, who stood at the bow holding a small umbrella. The fireworks illuminated her face and figure. Zhao Buyou spotted her and called out for her to join them on the bridge. Wen Yue ran an umbrella shop, skilled in making paper umbrellas.

She had just finished a delivery and asked the boatman, Mr. Li, to take the last batch of umbrellas to Lin Mansion on Junyiqiao Street. Zhao Buyou gave Wen Yue the lantern crafted by Zhao Mo'er. When she lit it, the lantern quickly rose into the sky. As they watched it ascend, Zhao Buyou and his family made wishes. Wen Yue's greatest wish was to buy a large house in the capital.

Zhao Buyou vowed to work harder to help her achieve her dream sooner. Zhang Zeduan observed the family and included them in his painting. Wen Yue had recently secured a large order from the Office of Treasury, and she and her family were working extra hours to fulfill it. Inspector Gan Liang, a Zuojun Inspector from Kaifeng Court known for his oppressive behavior, heard about the big order and personally visited her shop, harassing her customers who quickly left.

Wen Yue, wanting to avoid trouble, had money ready for him, but Inspector Gan became aggressive, physically accosting her. Wen Yue resisted fiercely. While Zhao Buyou was listening to a storyteller in the street, a customer rushed to inform him about the trouble at the umbrella shop. Zhao Buyou immediately ran home. Inspector Gan ordered his men to beat Zhao Buyou and smash the shop. Zhao Buyou was left bruised and swollen.

After cleaning up the shop, he took Wen Yue to the Songjiaqiao Business Center to watch an opera. It was their fifteenth anniversary, a day they traditionally spent watching plays there. Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue arrived at the crowded opera performance. Zhao Buyou enthusiastically discussed the plot with bystanders; the play depicted various strange demons dancing. A small girl handed Wen Yue a paper with the word "Dagger" written on it.

Recognizing it as a signal, Wen Yue followed the girl away from the stage. Zhao Buyou soon realized Wen Yue was gone and began searching for her. Wen Yue followed the girl to the theatrical troupe's warehouse, where Inspector Gan was waiting. He continued to harass her, threatening to expose her secrets if she didn't comply. Angered, Wen Yue pulled out her hairpin and stabbed him in the chest.

Zhao Buyou learned Wen Yue's location from a vendor and arrived at the warehouse, discovering Inspector Gan was dead. Determined to protect Wen Yue from punishment, Zhao Buyou quickly devised a plan. They hid Inspector Gan's body inside a large head prop used by the troupe. As troupe members pushed the prop head towards the backstage area, Zhao Buyou seized the opportunity to move the body and donned a two-headed demon costume to blend in with the performers.

He subtly signaled Wen Yue on stage, then slipped away unnoticed during the chaos of the performance. Wen Yue followed him. Meanwhile, Wan Fu, a Zuojun Judge from Kaifeng Court, heard Inspector Gan was planning to capture a major criminal at the Songjiaqiao Business Center that night. Known for his rivalry with Gan, Wan Fu rushed his men to the scene to intercept. Gu Zhen, the Zuojun Director of Kaifeng Court, also arrived upon hearing the news.

They surrounded the business center, preventing anyone from leaving. A vendor informed them that Inspector Gan and a couple had successively entered the warehouse. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu searched the warehouse but found no trace of Inspector Gan. Unseen, Wen Yue and Zhao Buyou secured Gan's body and then returned to the performance, acting as if nothing had happened. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu called Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue aside to question them about Gan's whereabouts.

The couple claimed ignorance, stating they saw nothing. Gu Zhen grew suspicious, suggesting Zhao Buyou might have killed Gan and used the two-headed demon prop to move the body. Zhao Buyou vehemently denied it, but Gu Zhen lacked concrete evidence. He publicly announced Inspector Gan's disappearance to the crowd. The public, who despised Inspector Gan for his notorious actions, reacted with cheers and excitement at the news.

Some witnesses stepped forward, claiming they saw Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue using the two-headed demon prop to move Gan's body. Gu Zhen led his men to the riverbank where the prop was found and ordered a search of the water, but they found nothing. Wen Yue publicly listed Inspector Gan's numerous past crimes, inciting anger among the crowd. Unwilling to provoke further public outcry, Gu Zhen and his men returned to Kaifeng Court.

Later, Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue tied Inspector Gan's body to the bottom of a small boat and rowed to a wooded area, where they buried him and retrieved the hairpin. That night, Zhao Buyou was troubled, thinking about the killing. Wen Yue had inserted the hairpin into Gan's body and angled it upward into the heart, a technique that would prevent blood from flowing outward but cause internal bleeding.

Such a precise method was unusual for someone without special training, leaving Zhao Buyou curious about how Wen Yue knew it. The next morning, Wen Yue left the house early, and Zhao Buyou secretly followed her. Zhang Zeduan unexpectedly stopped Zhao Buyou to discuss his painting, providing an opportunity for Wen Yue to disappear into the crowd. Later, Gu Zhen and Wan Fu arrived at Rainbow Bridge, where Zhang Zeduan was sketching by a teahouse.

A large cargo ship approached the bridge but was unable to lower its mast in time due to its speed. The ship turned sideways just as it reached the bridge, causing a loud crash. Thick fog billowed around the bridge, and as it cleared, a colorful auspicious cloud appeared in the sky, drawing cheers from the onlookers. Zhang Zeduan quickly sketched the scene.

However, just then, several dead bodies floated out from under the bridge, shocking Gu Zhen, Wan Fu, and Zhao Buyou who witnessed the gruesome sight. The Song Dynasty was known for its prosperous economy and active commercial trade, which generated significant tax revenue for the government. Advances in shipbuilding and navigation technology facilitated extensive foreign trade, bringing people from all over the world to do business and contributing to a highly developed economy. Economic historian Angus Maddison estimated that the Song Dynasty accounted for a significant portion of the world's GDP during that period.

Episode 2 Recap

After a large boat passed under the bridge, a thick mist enveloped the area, followed by a multicolored auspicious cloud appearing in the sky. The citizens celebrated, believing it to be a good omen for the Song dynasty. As the fog dissipated, many bodies were seen floating in the river. Nearby, a raft drifted with a pig's head hanging from its sail and a blood message: "Justice has been done, the greedy pig met his fate."

Observing the scene, Gu Zhen, the presiding official, ordered Wan Fu to apprehend a person who was spotted swimming away underwater, their face covered. Zhao Buyou watched, sensing the person might be Wen Yue. He noticed someone with wet hair in the retreating crowd and quickly went to follow, but Zhang Zeduan stopped him to discuss his painting, momentarily delaying Zhao Buyou. Wan Fu expressed confusion about how such a large boat could simply vanish after passing the Rainbow Bridge.

Gu Zhen recalled a similar incident fifteen years prior, when the Deputy Commissioner of Transport of Liangzhe Region, Li Yan, was killed on his boat under the same bridge while arriving in the capital for his official report. Zhao Buyou returned home preoccupied. His children, Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er, enthusiastically celebrated his and Wen Yue's fifteen-year anniversary of meeting. Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue, each harboring secrets, cautiously questioned each other, exchanging lies.

Zhao Buyou's thoughts drifted back to how they met. Fifteen years ago, after Li Yan and his entourage were killed, Zhao Buyou, then a Scribe Assistant at the Office of Justice, went to the river to witness the commotion. He was accidentally pushed into the water. Soaked, he went to a tailor's shop to buy dry clothes, where he unexpectedly encountered Wen Yue, also buying dry clothes. Two officers arrived at the shop to investigate. Wen Yue was visibly terrified.

Zhao Buyou quickly claimed they were engaged to be married, successfully deceiving the officers. Wen Yue thanked him for his help, claiming to be a homeless orphan, and even joked that she was the one who killed Li Yan. Zhao Buyou was smitten with her. Back in the present, Zhao Ban'er and Zhao Mo'er hosted the anniversary celebration, excitedly discussing the strange events at the Rainbow Bridge that day.

Zhao Ban'er specifically remembered that Wen Yue's hair was wet when she returned home. Wen Yue lied, saying she had met with a bamboo supplier. Both Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue were uneasy. A delivery arrived from "bamboo supplier Xiao Yishui," containing a box of delicacies. Wen Yue cautioned everyone not to eat it immediately. Zhao Buyou then ushered Zhao Ban'er, Zhao Mo'er, and his father Zhao Li out of the room.

Alone with Wen Yue, he confronted her, stating his belief that she was the masked person in the river and insisting that their family must leave the capital immediately. Wen Yue opened the box of delicacies and found a threatening note inside: "No case file from the Office of Justice and your whole family will be slain." Zhao Buyou went into the street and saw officers registering people who had gotten wet.

Di Lun, a Prosecutor from the Office of Justice, arrived, and Gu Zhen requested the case file for Li Yan's murder fifteen years ago. Di Lun made excuses, reluctant to hand it over. Hearing their conversation, Zhao Buyou approached Gu Zhen, offering his services. He claimed to have memorized the entire Li Yan case file and sought a position under Gu Zhen. Gu Zhen was surprised, asking why a Scribe Assistant from the Office of Justice would want to leave.

Zhao Buyou explained the events of the previous night: a fire at the National Archives (where old files were stored) had been blamed on him by Di Lun, who wanted to protect Luo Zhun, a relative of the Personnel Minister, who was responsible for the fire. Di Lun had promised Zhao Buyou a promotion if he took the blame, but instead, an announcement of his dismissal was posted that morning.

Zhao Buyou not only demonstrated his knowledge of the Li Yan case file but also offered tactical suggestions to Gu Zhen, much to Di Lun's annoyance. Gu Zhen decided to take Zhao Buyou into his service and assign him important tasks, leaving Di Lun frustrated. Zhao Buyou obtained the list of people who had gotten wet from an officer and saw Wen Yue's name on it.

He attempted to rewrite the list to remove her name, but the officer refused, instead handing the original list to Gu Zhen. Suddenly, the pig's head on the raft moved, its mouth opening. Gu Zhen hurried to investigate, finding a toad inside. Zhao Buyou seized this distraction to quickly rewrite the wet clothes list, omitting Wen Yue's name before the original was reviewed. The Kaifeng Court was ordered by the imperial court to apprehend the true culprit within three days.

Wan Fu reported the progress of the investigation. The missing boat's owner was named Mei, and the vessel, referred to as "Mei's Boat," had been rented months prior for a large sum and moved to a remote lake. The victims were all killed by sharp weapons, and their identities remained unknown. All registered individuals with wet clothes had alibis.

Additionally, the Gate Guarding Department of the Ministry of Justice had reported that a few days earlier, a suspicious group led by a man referred to as "Mr. Xiao" had entered the capital via the waterway using fake travel documents. Gu Zhen asked Zhao Buyou to elaborate on the Li Yan case from fifteen years ago. Zhao Buyou explained that Li Yan was beheaded, while his entourage were killed by sharp weapons, similar to the victims in the current case.

He recalled that Di Lun had investigated the Li Yan case and that three perpetrators were supposedly caught and eliminated. Wan Fu questioned if Di Lun's handling of the previous case had allowed the culprits to strike again, provoking Di Lun. Zhao Buyou suggested that investigating the origin of the "auspicious sign" could reveal the truth.

Di Lun loudly interrupted Zhao Buyou, pulling Gu Zhen aside to warn him that investigating the auspicious sign could anger powerful figures in the court and jeopardize Gu Zhen's career. After considering the risks, Gu Zhen decided to follow Zhao Buyou's suggestion and begin the investigation by looking into the auspicious sign.

Episode 3 Recap

Gu Zhen instructed Zhao Buyou to investigate the auspicious sign that appeared on the river, believing that finding the creator of the mechanism would lead to the murderer. Zhao Buyou admitted he didn't understand such mechanisms but could recommend someone. He went to find his younger brother, Zhao Mo'er, a student of "Crafting Genius" Zhang Yong, known for his skill in mechanisms. Zhao Mo'er joined him by the boat with the pig head and blood writing, standing in silence.

Wan Fu expressed frustration over the three-day deadline set by the court with no progress. Wen Yue arranged for paper effigies for ancestor worship to be delivered to the Office of Justice, causing alarm among the officials and drawing public attention outside the office. Wen Yue, in disguise, infiltrated the Office of Justice archives to search for files on Li Yan's case. She discovered the relevant case files had been burned.

As she prepared to leave, guards and workers arrived to repair the building, and she accidentally knocked over a table, revealing her presence. She used her umbrella to defend herself, quickly incapacitating the guards before making her escape. Zhao Mo'er suggested they begin by investigating the auspicious clouds, explaining their formation could be due to sunlight on fog, intensified by a bright light source. He knew of substances that burn brighter than fireworks, some of which were prohibited.

Gu Zhen ordered Wan Fu to investigate recent buyers of these materials and arranged for Zhao Mo'er to conduct experiments once the materials were acquired. Wan Fu managed to gather most of the required materials but was missing magnesia. Zhao Mo'er insisted that all components, including magnesia, were essential for a successful experiment. Wan Fu grew impatient, eager to have Zhao Mo'er sign off so he could report progress.

Song Qiyu, a reporter from the Jixiantang Newspaper and a candidate for the imperial examination, witnessed the exchange. He introduced himself, explaining his purpose was to report on the case, and flattered Wan Fu by acknowledging his reputation. Wan Fu, somewhat appeased, agreed to find the missing magnesia. Finding herself surrounded, Wen Yue escaped through an underground culvert. She recalled that this area was known as the "trouble-free hole" by Water Dagger, a pirate from the South.

A flashback showed young Wen Yue orphaned after her mother's death, with Water Dagger trying to persuade her to become a pirate. Although she initially refused, she eventually followed him into the underground culvert, becoming involved in illicit activities. Returning to the culvert brought back traumatic memories, and she quickly fled the area. Zhao Ban'er, Zhao Buyou's younger sister, visited the temporary morgue set up for the Rainbow Bridge victims.

She observed the coroner, Yao He (son of the retired Coroner Yao), performing pre-autopsy rituals, appearing timid and stalling. Zhao Ban'er, who had studied medicine, stepped forward and offered to help, stating she was not afraid of the bodies. Yao He attempted to use a silver needle but showed fear. Zhao Ban'er explained that weak poisons might not be detected by silver needles and suggested using hot vinegar and rice balls, which absorb toxins.

They applied rice balls to the mouths of four specific bodies. The rice balls turned black, indicating poisoning. Zhao Ban'er noted a garlic smell and suspected red spider lily, a poison from the South that causes weakness, explaining why these victims, identified as fighters, showed no signs of struggle. Zhao Mo'er conducted several experiments, finally succeeding in recreating the bright light effect. He identified sulfur and magnesia as the key components.

He then took Song Qiyu to search for the boat used to create the light, reasoning that burning sulfur would have driven away woodworms. They searched small boats along the riverbanks. Song Qiyu proved helpful in the search. They located a small, deserted boat. A nearby boat owner reported seeing people, including a Hindu man, disembark from this boat before the incident.

Zhao Buyou sent Zhao Ban'er home, claiming he had argued with Wen Yue and wanted Ban'er to check on her. Wan Fu found the boat owner who brought the group led by a "Mr. Xiao" into the city. The owner reported that Mr. Xiao and his group boarded in Yingtian Prefecture and were physically imposing individuals.

He overheard them discussing finding a "pig head" and a woman named Fu Ling, described as an official physician who gives prescriptions, and her female junior apprentice. Wan Fu speculated that Fu Ling and the female junior apprentice were the same person as the masked woman seen in the river. Zhao Buyou recorded the boat owner's testimony. Wan Fu attempted to reconstruct the crime scene based on his assumptions.

Zhao Buyou brought in the painter Zhang Zeduan to examine his paintings of the Rainbow Bridge incident for clues. Zhang Zeduan presented a painting from earlier that morning showing a boat with an unusual anchor lifter positioned on top instead of the stern and noted it was wider than typical river boats. This difference helped identify a suspicious vessel.

Zhao Mo'er reported his findings on the materials used for the light and the identification of the suspicious boat to Gu Zhen. Gu Zhen decided to focus the investigation on this boat. Zhao Buyou presented his own analysis to Gu Zhen, mentioning that his previous reports to Di Lun were dismissed. Gu Zhen was impressed with Zhao Buyou and promised his support.

Song Qiyu and Zhao Mo'er bonded over their collaboration, and Zhao Mo'er gave Song Qiyu a complex mortise and tenon toy he had crafted. Following Gu Zhen's orders, officers searched the Bian River banks and found the suspicious boat hidden inside a larger boat on a wild beach.

Zhao Mo'er examined the boat, noting it was made of light paulownia wood and had a catamaran structure, essentially a hollow hull designed like a large drawer to conceal another vessel, explaining its unusual features and disappearance. Di Lun arrived and expressed concern about investigating the origin of the auspicious sign, calling it a crime against the Emperor. Gu Zhen dismissed his worries, suggesting the Emperor might not care about the sign's authenticity. Di Lun left.

Inside the hidden boat, a bronze furnace was discovered containing residue identified by Zhao Mo'er as a mixture of niter, sugar, and spices, confirming it was used to create the smoke. Zhao Buyou recognized the furnace as a Hindu type, recalling seeing a similar one used in a smoke art performance. Zhao Buyou presented his reconstruction of the events: A group used the Hindu furnace on the Mei's Boat as part of a plan to create a fake auspicious sign.

They intended to release smoke and pull the Mei's Boat into the catamaran to make it disappear. However, another group knew the plan, infiltrated the Mei's Boat, and killed the crew during the smoke release, turning the auspicious sign into a massacre. The first group, obscured by smoke, proceeded to pull the Mei's Boat into the catamaran as planned. The second group used the smoke as cover to escape.

The first group, finding the dead bodies and realizing something had gone wrong, abandoned the boats on the beach because Gu Zhen's forces had sealed the river. Zhao Buyou concluded that finding the creators of the auspicious sign (specifically the Hindu man) was the priority to then identify the second group. Gu Zhen agreed and instructed Zhao Buyou to report for duty at the Kaifeng Court the next day. Wan Fu was visibly displeased. As Zhao Buyou and Zhao Mo'er prepared to leave, Zhao Ban'er rushed towards them with urgent news that something had happened to Wen Yue.

Episode 4 Recap

Ban rushes home to inform Zhao Buyou that Wen Yue is gone. She left a note saying she does not regret their fifteen years together and asks him to take care of his father and siblings if she does not return. Ban confirms that Wen Yue's clothes and jewelry were still at home.

Remembering that Xiao Yishui, a bamboo merchant, had sent Wen Yue a box of delicacies on their anniversary and hearing from Ban that Mr. Xiao also mentioned looking for his junior sister, Zhao Buyou fears something bad has happened. He immediately collects all the money from Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er and leaves quickly.

Zhao Mo'er tells him that Mr. Xiao was looking for a woman named Fu Ling, known for "prescribing," whom he visits every time he is in the capital. Zhao Buyou instructs them to go home. A flashback shows a scene fifteen years prior. A master orders his followers, including Wen Yue (addressed as Jiu), to do something big that Qingming night: kill Li Yan on the West Rainbow Bridge.

Wen Yue pleads with the master, saying she knows Li Yan is a good official, but the master ignores her plea and kills Li Yan. Zhao Buyou finds Fu Ling on a boat and, acknowledging her rule, pays her to ask about the man with the surname Xiao. Fu Ling admits Xiao paid her a large sum to "hook up with boatmen of a boat" and she came up with the idea of luring them with women dressed as mermaids.

She saw several people crawl onto the big boat in the dark that day after the boatmen were distracted. She tells Zhao Buyou that Xiao has been in the Fan Building every day recently and is currently in the Meilan Hall there. Wen Yue goes to the Fan Building to find Xiao Yishui. He has her searched for weapons.

Recognizing her scent and calling her "Jiu," he reminisces about the past, mentioning an injury she inflicted on him with a dagger. He tells her that fate has brought them back together and insists he wants both the Li Yan case file and her to return with him. Wen Yue refuses to go back. When he asks if she got the file, she claims she did but doesn't have it on her.

Enraged, Xiao calls her insulting names and yells at his subordinates, beating one violently. Zhao Buyou observes from a distance as Gu Zhen and Wan Fu arrive at the Fan Building, asking for the manager. They are investigating a pig head found in the Bian River which led them to the building via a pig shop. The manager claims the pig heads are discarded waste. Gu Zhen then asks if a strong man named Xiao has been staying there recently.

The manager confirms his presence and directs them to where he is. Xiao Yishui continues to pressure Wen Yue to return to him, claiming it's the life she should be living. Wen Yue asks why he wants the Li Yan case file and what he plans to do, worried it will implicate her. Xiao reveals he wants the file to avenge his father.

He claims his father was killed by the Office of Justice fifteen years ago, and everyone on the banks witnessed it. He questions why the Office of Justice arrived so quickly and killed everyone indiscriminately, finding it illogical and suspecting someone was behind it. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu enter, finding Xiao and Wen Yue together. Gu Zhen questions what is going on and asks about the boat incident.

Zhao Buyou, rushing in, immediately creates a diversion by claiming Xiao and Wen Yue are meeting secretly for a romantic liaison, identifying Wen Yue as his wife. Xiao plays along, boldly declaring he is in love with Wen Yue and challenging Buyou. Wen Yue claims she is meeting Xiao for a business discussion, identifying him as the bamboo merchant. Gu Zhen is skeptical and demands to see Xiao's customs document.

Xiao provides the document, which identifies him as Xiao Yishui from Meishan, Chengdu Prefecture, who came to sell specific types of bamboo. Zhao Buyou emphasizes that Xiao is a Sichuan merchant and Wen Yue makes umbrellas, suggesting their meeting is business-related. Di Lun, a Prosecutor from the Office of Justice, arrives. He recognizes Xiao Yishui and greets him warmly as a fellow native from Sichuan, joking about their hometowns and food, much to Gu Zhen's annoyance.

Di Lun dismisses Gu Zhen's concerns about the situation and, after confirming Xiao's document is valid, indicates to Gu Zhen that they should leave. Di Lun then bids Xiao farewell and also departs, leaving Zhao Buyou, Wen Yue, and Xiao Yishui alone. Xiao drops the pretense, telling them he knows Wen Yue is clever for marrying Zhao Buyou, a copyist whose workplace is convenient for him.

He takes them to an underground culvert, suggesting it's a place where people disappear unnoticed. He demands the Li Yan case file. Wen Yue tries to shield Zhao Buyou, claiming he knows nothing and she went to the Office of Justice alone. Zhao Buyou learns she went to the Office of Justice and knows about his dismissal. Wen Yue offers to take Xiao to get the file if he frees Buyou. Xiao refuses to free Buyou.

When Wen Yue insists on freeing both, Xiao orders his men to bury Buyou alive, demanding the file again. Wen Yue secretly cuts the ropes binding her. Xiao realizes she doesn't have the file and was trying to sacrifice herself for Zhao Buyou. He orders his men to untie Buyou. As Wen Yue urges Buyou to escape, Xiao taunts her about her willingness to die for Zhao Buyou.

To protect Wen Yue and demonstrate his capability, Zhao Buyou recites the entire contents of the Li Yan case file from memory, stating he knows all the files in the archive. He warns Xiao that if he harms his wife, he may forget the file's contents. Impressed, Xiao asks Buyou why he didn't reveal his knowledge earlier. Buyou explains his suspicion of Xiao based on the circumstances of the Li Yan murder and the Office of Justice's sudden appearance.

Xiao reveals his real goal is to find the name of the person who closed the case, believing this individual framed his father. Zhao Buyou recalls the person's name was Cheng Rui, an Administrative Judge, but states he died three years ago. Xiao dismisses Cheng Rui as being capable of framing his father and believes the true culprit is still alive and is the same person responsible for the fake auspicious sign today, which he destroyed to provoke them.

He claims he can prove it's the same person. Xiao produces two secret letters: one from the employer who hired his father fifteen years ago and one planning today's fake auspicious sign, asserting their handwriting is identical. He says he wanted the Li Yan file for comparison. Wen Yue admits that the archive caught fire and the file was burned, calling it a coincidence. Xiao asks who set the fire.

Wen Yue doesn't know but identifies Luo Zhun as the last person to leave the archive, though she isn't sure if he was the arsonist. Xiao claims he knows how to confirm if Luo Zhun set the fire. He tells Wen Yue he will pick her up at her house once he is finished and leaves with his men.

Wen Yue confesses her past to Zhao Buyou: she became an orphaned refugee and joined the southern pirates because she couldn't afford to eat. Gan Liang discovered this and threatened her, which is why she killed him. She explains how Xiao Yishui, disguised as a bamboo merchant, lured her into a meeting which was a trap.

He knew about her past, showed her the destroyed auspicious sign, and forced her to steal the Li Yan case file from the Office of Justice by threatening her family. She confirms she was the person Buyou saw in the water, having put on clothes from a dead boatman after Xiao pushed her in. She concludes her confession, acknowledging that Buyou learned about his own dismissal from the Office of Justice when she went there.

Wen Yue presents Zhao Buyou with a divorce letter she prepared. She explains that her connection to Xiao poses a danger to his family and that she cannot stay, especially after lying to them. She gives him her savings of 800 guan, earned from making umbrellas, insisting he use it to buy a house to protect his family's reputation and allow them to live peacefully after she leaves. Zhao Buyou vehemently refuses to sign the letter, burning it in anger.

He expresses his hurt but agrees to buy the house, saying he will live there with a future wife, while she can only watch. He asks her to reserve the south room for his father. Wen Yue agrees. Zhao Buyou tells her that if she is ruthless, he will not be kind either. Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er overhear the argument about divorce and are distressed. Their father, Zhao Li, arrives.

Wen Yue states she is the one seeking the divorce, claiming it's because she has not had a child for the Zhao family. Zhao Li dismisses this, blaming Zhao Buyou instead and arguing against the divorce as they are already burdened enough with the siblings. Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er declare they will leave with Wen Yue if she goes, while Zhao Li attempts to calm the situation and stop Wen Yue from leaving immediately.

The next morning, Zhao Buyou takes Zhao Mo'er to the Great Shop of Mules and Horses to buy a horse for Wen Yue. Zhao Buyou likes a white horse and recognizes the shop owner from fifteen years ago. They bargain and agree on a price. While there, Zhao Mo'er notices a foreign man with an accent whose sleeve has residue resembling the powder left on his sleeve when he experimented with ingredients for the fake auspicious sign.

Zhao Buyou is intrigued. When the shop owner mentions that selling horses to foreigners is illegal, someone suddenly attempts to kill the foreign man with a dagger. Zhao Buyou yells, scaring off the attacker, and quickly takes the foreign man away with him, telling him to come along if he doesn't want to die.

Episode 5 Recap

Zhao Buyou and Zhao Mo, after escaping with the Hindu man from people trying to kill them, take refuge. Zhao Buyou confirms the Hindu man is from Samboja, a region near Hindu, and he arrived in East Capital six months ago, smuggled on a boat by two merchants. He performed fireworks shows in the business center until he was arrested by officials from the Office of Justice because he lacked necessary documents.

He was then taken to a dark room, where he was forced to create the auspicious sign. Although he couldn't see the person's face in the dark, he noticed something on their thumb, a thumb ring carved with the characters meaning "A mind tranquil as still water." He only saw this detail when the person pointed near his forehead after he initially refused. Zhao Buyou immediately realizes the official described is Di Lun, a prosecutor from the Office of Justice.

Sensing someone is listening outside, he tells Mo to watch the Hindu man and take him to the Kaifeng Court later, while he goes to investigate the eavesdropper. However, the person gets away. When Zhao Buyou returns, Mo tells him the Hindu man ran off because he was terrified of officials, despite Mo's attempts to stop him. With the key witness gone, Zhao Buyou decides they must take a chance.

He buys the white horse they were trying to get earlier and sends it back with Mo to Wen Yue, along with a letter. The letter instructs Wen Yue not to hesitate and to leave the city right away. Wen Yue becomes suspicious of the urgent message and questions Mo further. Mo, unsure of what to say, reveals the letter mentioned a meeting location at the abandoned boat in the graveyard in the eastern suburbs.

Concerned, Wen Yue immediately takes the horse and rides towards the eastern suburbs. Meanwhile, Zhao Buyou goes to meet with Inspector Gu Zhen and Judge Wan Fu. He accuses Di Lun of being the person responsible for both the murder of Li Yan fifteen years ago and the forgery of the auspicious sign today. He claims he has evidence and is himself a witness.

Inspector Gu questions Zhao Buyou's accusations, noting that Di Lun recently had Zhao Buyou dismissed from his position at the Office of Justice and suggesting his claims are driven by resentment and an attempt to frame his former superior. At his own location, Di Lun is informed by a subordinate that Zhao Buyou has met with the Hindu man and has figured out Di Lun's involvement in the auspicious sign. The subordinate reports that he killed the Hindu man.

Di Lun realizes things are coming to light but believes a greater mastermind is behind Zhao Buyou's actions. He decides to let Zhao Buyou lead him to this person. He orders his men to pose as kidnappers and capture Zhao Buyou's entire family, specifically stating he needs them alive for his plans.

Di Lun receives a urgent letter from Zhao Buyou, requesting a meeting at the abandoned boat in the graveyard in the eastern suburbs at the appointed time and asking him to bring two bottles of "flowing glow" wine. Di Lun, intrigued by Zhao Buyou's move, goes to the meeting spot. Zhao Buyou is already there, and confronts Di Lun with an uncharacteristic display of confidence.

Zhao Buyou recounts various humiliating tasks he performed for Di Lun over the years, implying he knows much more about Di Lun's corrupt dealings and his subservience to a hidden master. Zhao Buyou points to the specific boat at the graveyard and accuses Di Lun directly: fifteen years ago, Di Lun hired pirates to murder Li Yan and everyone on that boat.

He emphasizes that Di Lun, a mere prosecutor, wouldn't dare undertake such actions without a powerful figure pulling the strings. Di Lun, enraged by the accusations, draws his sword, calls Zhao Buyou a slanderer, and orders his men to arrest him. Unfazed, Zhao Buyou reveals that Di Lun was promised the lucrative position of Supervisor of Miscellaneous Purchases at the Office of Treasury by his master for his services.

However, Zhao Buyou reveals Di Lun was betrayed, as that position was given to someone named Wei Santong the previous day. As proof, Zhao Buyou shows a purchase order from Wen Yue's umbrella shop, signed by Wei Santong, who has already placed a large order for umbrellas. Just as Di Lun is stunned by this revelation, Wen Yue arrives at the graveyard. Di Lun orders his men to capture her.

Wen Yue fiercely defends herself, using her umbrella as a weapon to fend off multiple attackers. Seeing his men struggling, Di Lun orders them to seize Zhao Buyou instead. This forces Wen Yue to drop her umbrella and surrender to protect her husband. Di Lun has Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue tied up on the boat and orders his men to set it ablaze.

Zhao Buyou, attempting to buy time, engages Di Lun, asking to understand the full truth of the Li Yan case before he dies and hinting that he is expecting help. Di Lun, consumed by bitterness, rants about his impoverished origins, the 20-year contract binding him to his master, the years of dirty work he performed with the promise of the Office of Treasury position, and his master's ultimate betrayal.

He admits his involvement in the Li Yan case but refuses to name his master. He then personally lights the fire. As the flames grow, Zhao Buyou, terrified but resolute, holds Wen Yue's hand and asks her to promise to be with him in their next lives, which she does. He then yells out for Gu Zhen, revealing this confrontation was a risky plan involving the inspector, but he is worried by Gu Zhen's delay.

Miraculously, just as the fire is about to consume them, Gu Zhen and Wan Fu arrive, quickly put out the fire, and rescue the couple. Gu Zhen expresses regret that Di Lun died without revealing his master's identity. However, Di Lun, still alive, appears again and offers to cooperate with Gu Zhen, explicitly confessing to hiring the killer for the Li Yan case fifteen years ago.

Hearing Di Lun's confession, Gu Zhen reveals his own identity: a member of the Jingyuan Triumphant Army and a former subordinate of Commander Li Yan. He displays a tattoo on his forehead confirming this. After fifteen years of searching, Gu Zhen strikes Di Lun down to avenge his commander. Gu Zhen then asks Wen Yue how she managed to escape the boat incident fifteen years prior.

Wen Yue explains she believed Li Yan was a good official, but her master, Water Dagger, killed him regardless. Her master was subsequently killed by their employer's men. Amidst the chaos, when officials from the Office of Justice arrived and began firing arrows, she escaped by jumping into the river. Satisfied that justice for Li Yan has been served, Gu Zhen tells Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue he will find them again later, implicitly allowing them to leave for now.

Shaken but safe, Zhao Buyou is still visibly frightened. Wen Yue stays by his side. He worries about potential future trouble from Xiao Yishui, Wen Yue's senior disciple. Later, Wan Fu questions Gu Zhen about why he chose to kill Di Lun in front of Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue. Gu Zhen explains it was a deliberate act; by having them witness him commit a serious crime, he created a mutual secret, binding them together as allies or "own people."

Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue walk home together. Zhao Buyou admits how scared he was, calling himself a wimp, and expresses awe at Wen Yue's resilience having survived such trauma at a much younger age. Wen Yue reminds him of his earlier assertion that anyone could survive in East Capital. They decide not to leave the city. Still weak from the ordeal, Zhao Buyou relies on Wen Yue for support as they walk home.

Episode 6 Recap

A public notice is posted by the Kaifeng Court announcing the capture of the bandit leader, Xiao Yishui, and acknowledging the contribution of a "civilian from the eastern part of the city, Zhao," to the effort. This brief mention sparks curiosity among the onlookers about the civilian's identity. Meanwhile, Zhao Buyou is summoned to the Kaifeng Court by Inspector Gu Zhen via Judge Wan.

Upon arriving at the court, Zhao shows reverence for the engraved names of past prefects, particularly Bao Zheng. Gu Zhen comments on Zhao Buyou and his wife, seeing them as ordinary people who found themselves in an extraordinary situation, managed to evade capture under the authorities' noses, and even assisted in apprehending the criminal.

Gu Zhen then assigns Zhao Buyou the task of interrogating Xiao Yishui, who was captured at Luo Zhun's residence just in time before Luo Zhun could be harmed. Zhao Buyou is reluctant to interrogate Xiao Yishui, fearing for his safety and worrying that Xiao might reveal Wen Yue's past. He expresses his apprehension to Gu Zhen, who provides him with a letter found on Xiao, suggesting it might be from Di Lun to his backer and could be useful.

Zhao proceeds to the prison. Xiao Yishui immediately confronts him, enraged, accusing Zhao of betraying him to the authorities and threatening him. Zhao reveals that he knows Xiao is seeking vengeance for his father's murder and shows him a sample of handwriting. Xiao confirms it belongs to his father's killer and demands to know where Zhao obtained it. Zhao asks what Xiao would offer for his help, and Xiao pledges anything upon his release.

Zhao then tells him the killer was Di Lun, a prosecutor from the Office of Justice, but states that he has already killed Di Lun himself. Xiao is furious that after fifteen years of searching, his enemy was killed by Zhao, though he ultimately accepts it as fate. Zhao then presents a letter written by Di Lun instructing his subordinates to kill Zhao Buyou and his wife, identifying them as accomplices in the auspicious sign incident.

This letter proves to Xiao that Zhao acted in self-defense. Zhao continues the interrogation, first confirming that Xiao Yishui did not reveal Wen Yue's identity to anyone other than Gan Liang, which brings Zhao relief. Next, he asks how Xiao obtained the evidence from fifteen years ago.

Xiao explains the method for receiving anonymous orders in his profession, noting that the bundle he received unexpectedly contained his father's gold tooth, two pieces of evidence, and a letter made from cut-out words that revealed the truth of his father's murder. The letter also indicated the killer planned to stage a fake auspicious sign at the Qingming Festival, and instructed Xiao to kill the person on the boat to disrupt it.

Finally, Zhao asks how Xiao located Wen Yue in Tokyo. Xiao explains he was frequenting the Office of Justice, trying to access case records, when he saw her bringing food to Zhao. He admits he had previously thought she was dead. Xiao Yishui remarks that Wen Yue is fortunate to be alive and notes that she has been bringing Zhao food regularly for many years.

He then aggressively tells Zhao that Wen Yue is his woman and he intends to find her upon his release. Zhao Buyou is enraged by this threat. He declares that while Xiao has his revenge to pursue, Zhao has his family to protect, and warns that he will kill Xiao if he attempts to involve Wen Yue in any way. Xiao mocks Zhao, calling him a coward and daring him to kill him immediately.

Zhao lunges at Xiao but is restrained by Judge Wan, who reassures Zhao that Xiao will not be released from prison given the severity of his crimes. Later, Zhao Buyou finds Inspector Gu Zhen in the Kaifeng Court's backyard, tending to a large vegetable garden he planted. Zhao correctly surmises that Gu Zhen planted the vegetables to honor his late brother, Li Yan, who did the same during a military campaign.

Gu Zhen confirms his appreciation for practicality and instructs Zhao on how to harvest chives. Zhao asks about the person behind Di Lun, sensing Gu Zhen knows. Gu Zhen explains that when Li Yan was reassigned, he came into conflict with a powerful local figure, Zou Mian, known as "Southeast Court," who oppressed people while collecting treasures for the emperor. Li Yan's repeated impeachments created a deep animosity.

Zhao concludes that Di Lun was backed by Zou Mian as part of their plot involving the fake auspicious sign and suggests that Xiao Yishui is supported by a separate, opposing force, viewing the situation as a larger conflict between powerful entities.

Gu Zhen agrees that it appears to be a battle between powerful figures, implying ordinary people should stay out of it, but Zhao counters that being too afraid to act makes them no better than animals, a sentiment Gu Zhen appreciates. Gu Zhen expresses his firm resolve to bring Zou Mian to justice, even if it means seeking his execution, acknowledging Zou's vast influence but stating he is patient and will wait for an opportunity.

Zhao also asks if he can learn from Judge Wan about how common people earn money. Zhao returns home in a noticeably better mood. Wen Yue observes this and asks why. Zhao expresses relief that his recent troubles are over and tells Wen Yue that Xiao Yishui has been caught and will not be released, easing her fears about her past being revealed. Feeling safe, they decide to focus on building their life together.

Wen Yue mentions she accepted an urgent order from the Office of Treasury, seeing it as a positive development after their ordeal. They reaffirm their goal of buying a house, with Wen Yue determined to secure the Maijie Alley property that day, even if it requires a loan, as having their own house feels like home. Zhao also mentions his plan to apply for a litigation booth.

Zhao Mo and Zhao Ban visit Wu's Restaurant, run by Wu Xiang and his sister, Wu Qiao, known as "Bun Beauty," who uses a wheelchair. They note the restaurant's popularity and Wu Qiao's charm and her brother Wu Xiang's care for her. After enjoying their meal, Wu Xiang gives them a loyalty card, part of a promotion to get a free bun after collecting four.

While they are there, a customer accidentally bumps into Wu Ao, another sibling working there, causing buns to fall. Wu Xiang immediately confronts the customer, demanding payment and verbally abusing him. Zhao Mo recognizes the customer as Sun Bo, an errand boy who was his childhood friend. Zhao Ban tries to stop Zhao Mo from intervening. Despite Zhao Mo calling out his name, Sun Bo quickly runs away.

Zhao Ban comments on Zhao Mo's history of being considered strange and wonders if Sun Bo's family left the city due to their friendship. Zhao Ban then departs for her first day as an apprentice. Zhao Ban begins her apprenticeship at Physician Ge's clinic. However, she uses too much force while massaging a patient, causing him significant pain.

Physician Ge calms the patient and later dismisses Zhao Ban, paying her for the half-day's work but explaining that she lacks the necessary natural talent for medicine. Meanwhile, Zhao Buyou attempts to join the Litigation Guild. He waits all day at their office to meet with the head, Mr. Huang. By late afternoon, he is informed by an employee that Mr. Huang left hours ago, leaving Zhao disappointed after his lengthy wait.

Having found a desirable house, Wen Yue goes to the property agency with Zhao Mo and Zhao Ban to pay the deposit, as Zhao Buyou has not arrived as planned. Meanwhile, Zhao Buyou returns to Wen Yue's umbrella shop and spots a suspicious person lurking outside. He shouts, causing the person to flee, but fails to catch them. Returning home, he finds a package at the door marked with the character "匕" (Dagger).

Remembering Xiao Yishui's explanation of this mark indicating an anonymous order, he opens it to find a hundred liang of gold and a note. The note instructs him to kill Zhang Qiniang within five days and threatens to kill his entire family if he fails. Zhao is terrified by this threat. While Wen Yue and her siblings wait at the property agency, the renowned Zhang Qiniang arrives with a large entourage.

Known for her immense wealth and extensive property holdings, she imperiously questions the brokers about why her listed estates are not selling, dismissing rumors of a Hat Demon as nonsense. Zhao Ban grows impatient waiting to sign the contract. Zhang Qiniang's butler, Kang Qian, takes offense at her directness. Wen Yue defends her siblings, asserting their right to be served based on their early arrival.

Zhang Qiniang dismisses the concept of rules for ordinary people and learns Wen Yue is interested in a house in Maijie Alley. In a display of power, Zhang Qiniang declares she will buy all the properties in Maijie Alley. Wen Yue insists she has already paid the deposit on her chosen house. The broker confirms this and prepares to finalize the contract with Wen Yue. However, Zhang Qiniang discovers Wen Yue plans to take out a loan from a pawnshop.

Zhang Qiniang boasts that she owns the pawnshop and implies control over others, effectively blocking Wen Yue's ability to secure funding and warning her that failure to pay the balance will result in the loss of her deposit. Zhang Qiniang instructs the brokers to prepare contracts for all Maijie Alley properties and leaves, telling Wen Yue she will arrange for her deposit to be refunded. Wen Yue and her siblings leave the agency, disheartened.

Upon hearing Wen Yue's return, Zhao Buyou quickly hides the package with the gold and the threat. He is visibly shaken when Wen Yue tells him that Zhang Qiniang has taken the house they wanted. Later, while eating breakfast, Zhao Buyou tries to appear cheerful, joking about his potential future earnings, despite his unsuccessful attempt to join the Litigation Guild the previous day.

He reflects on their current small home, finding comfort in their family being together, but still expresses regret about losing the Maijie Alley house. When Wen Yue mentions Zhang Qiniang by name as the person who took the house, Zhao Buyou is startled. Just then, someone rushes in with alarming news: Wu Xiang from the bun shop is dead, reportedly killed by a creature described as a "Hat Demon."

Kaifeng Court officials arrive at Wu's restaurant to investigate the death of Wu Xiang. Judge Wan notes the presence of the suspect, Sun Bo, Wu Xiang's siblings Wu Ao and Wu Qiao, and the night watchman as witnesses. Wan asks Wu Ao and Wu Qiao to describe the previous night. Wu Ao recounts taking Wu Qiao to the clinic because she burned her hand while preparing food, and meeting the night watchman on their return.

The night watchman confirms being offered leftover buns by Wu Qiao. He describes entering the house, hearing screams of "Brother!" and "Help!" , seeing a monstrous figure resembling a hat with bloody hair leap out, and believes it was the legendary Hat Demon rumored to have appeared five years prior. At the Jixiantang Bookshop, Zhao Mo reviews the newly printed tabloid article about his involvement in solving the case with Song Qiyu.

He spots an error: "bitter soil" is incorrectly printed as "bitter ash". Despite the owner's refusal due to cost, Zhao Mo insists on a correction, offering to demonstrate an efficient method he devised for sorting movable type using a rotating disk. The owner agrees, and Zhao Mo shows how the method can significantly reduce labor and time. However, the owner still refuses to reprint the article, cuts Song Qiyu's pay for bringing Zhao Mo, and has Zhao Mo removed.

As Zhao Mo is being ejected, someone rushes into the shop announcing the death of Wu Xiang from the bun shop, attributed to the Hat Demon. Zhao Mo is stunned when he hears the suspect mentioned is an errand boy named "Bo ge."

Episode 7 Recap

Rumors spread like wildfire about Wu Xiang's death, attributed to a Hat Demon, eerily similar to an incident five years prior, leaving the public in a state of panic. Judge Wan, hearing about a conflict between Sun Bo and Wu Xiang at Wu's Restaurant the previous day, had the neighbor across the street identify Sun Bo as the person seen sneaking into Wu's home late at night.

Sun Bo claimed he was there to pay a debt, but Judge Wan dismissed his explanation as a lie, accusing him of faking the Hat Demon attack to exact revenge on Wu Xiang, who he claimed exploited Sun Bo's meager earnings. Judge Wan, confident in his ability to solve cases alongside Inspector Gu, asserted that no real demon would dare cause trouble. He interpreted Sun Bo's lack of verbal rebuttal as acquiescence and ordered his arrest.

Zhao Mo'er arrived, calling Judge Wan's conclusions mere guesses without evidence or proper investigation of the crime scene and body. He argued that the minor altercation he witnessed between Sun Bo and Wu Xiang hardly constituted a motive for murder. Judge Wan cautioned the young man to think before acting, threatening to cause trouble for Zhao Mo'er's brother, Zhao Buyou, if he spoke further.

Judge Wan insisted a "treacherous man" was trying to disrupt public order, not a Hat Demon, and again ordered Mo'er's arrest, though Mo'er was ultimately moved aside. Meanwhile, the fearful residents of Yanglou Street worried about the recurring Hat Demon incidents impacting property values, especially those owned by Zhang Qiniang. Believing Sun Bo to be innocent, Zhao Mo'er pleaded with the coroner Yao He to perform an autopsy on Wu Xiang.

Yao He, however, was terrified, admitting the death was too gruesome for him to handle alone. He suggested his father (Zhao Buyou) was the only one capable but had strict rules, mentioning that in a previous case, the Mei's Boat Case, he would have been expelled if not for Zhao Ban'er's assistance. Later, Zhao Ban'er was attempting to become an apprentice to Physician Ge, offering him cured meat made by her sister-in-law (Wen Yue).

Physician Ge flatly refused, stating he already had a new apprentice and ordering a helper to ensure she never returned. Zhao Mo'er arrived and intervened, warning the helper that only he was allowed to bully his sister, Zhao Ban'er, before picking up the fallen cured meat. Zhao Mo'er then enlisted Ban'er's help with the autopsy, reminding her it concerned Sun Bo and that Inspector Gu had allowed her to assist him before.

At the autopsy room, Ban'er took the lead, identifying the deceased as Wu Xiang, 34, owner of Wu's Restaurant, and mentioning his brother Wu Ao and sister Wu Qiao. She checked for injuries and broken bones, finding none. When the possibility of a Hat Demon was raised again, she suggested poisoning. Using black locust water and a silver plate placed in the body's mouth, she tested for oral poison, although she noted silver wouldn't detect all poisons.

Needing a live test for other possibilities, she eagerly went to find the chicken Yao He mentioned was in the yard for roasting, despite his protests. After the chicken showed no ill effects, they concluded poison wasn't detected by their methods. Mo'er and Ban'er reiterated their disbelief in Hat Demons but acknowledged the strange flying rumors. Realizing they needed more clues, they decided to investigate Wu's house at night since Kaifeng Prefecture guards were present during the day.

Meanwhile, Wen Yue accompanied Zhao Buyou to visit Mr. Huang of the Litigation Guild. Wen Yue presented Mr. Huang with homemade Lotus Fish, impressing him with her unique flour recipe. She explained that her husband, a newcomer to litigation, needed guidance from Mr. Huang, who was known for helping others. Mr. Huang agreed to accept Zhao Buyou, explaining guild rules required buying a litigation book, with identical books priced differently based on location.

Despite Zhao Buyou knowing the books by heart, he was made to buy one. Wen Yue quickly insisted on purchasing the 50 guan book for a spot on Xiangran Street, which was the cheapest but least desirable location, over Zhao Buyou's complaints of being extorted. Wen Yue reassured him they could earn the money back and were now in business.

Wen Yue accompanied him to Xiangran Street the next day as he set up his simple "First Litigation Booth in the Capital". She again urged him to visit Physician Ge after closing to discuss Ban'er's situation, noting that Ban'er had been fired from the clinic again the previous day for injuring someone's arm, and criticizing Zhao Buyou for not knowing or caring. Zhao Buyou agreed to go, and Wen Yue left for her umbrella shop.

Later, seeing a crowd gathered near Zhang Qiniang's mansion on Yanglou Street, Zhao Buyou went to investigate. He learned Zhang Qiniang was offering a 500 guan bounty for the Hat Demon, motivated by the impact the recent incidents were having on her properties in the area. An old woman arrived, weeping, claiming her son, Mr. Ji, hired as a music teacher by the mansion, had died suddenly and mysteriously, leaving only ashes.

A maid from the mansion insisted Mr. Ji died of a sudden illness, dismissing the woman and attempting to forcibly remove her after giving her money and the urn. Unconvinced, Zhao Buyou slipped into Zhang Mansion through a back door. He saw Zhang Qiniang and her manager enjoying singing and dancing in a warm chamber. When discovered, he claimed to have worked at a crematorium and could smell the scent of a young man's burned body in the garden.

Intrigued, Zhang Qiniang admitted to using human cremains as fertilizer, showing him where Mr. Ji's ashes were used, explaining that burned ashes made flowers thrive better than buried bodies. Zhao Buyou offered his services to solve the Hat Demon problem, willing to become flower fertilizer himself if he failed. Zhang Qiniang agreed to test his abilities. Back home, Zhao Mo'er sat lost in thought, distressed by Sun Bo's arrest.

Zhao Ban'er told Wen Yue about Mo'er's state and asked if Zhao Buyou could intercede with Inspector Gu to allow them to visit Sun Bo. Ban'er also revealed she had been fired by Physician Ge again. Wen Yue expressed disappointment that Zhao Buyou hadn't gone to see Physician Ge as she'd asked. Fearing Zhao Buyou's reaction, Ban'er pulled Mo'er away and they ran off. Realizing they were heading towards the case, Wen Yue decided to follow them.

Near the site of the planned demon-hunting assembly on Yanglou Street, Zhao Mo'er and Ban'er met Yao He, who was waiting nervously. Song Qiyu also arrived, drawn by the spectacle of the assembly. Introductions were made; Song Qiyu recognized Ban'er from a previous incident where she and Mo'er were involved in an explosion and noted he wrote newspaper articles about Mo'er. Ban'er questioned Song Qiyu about his writing, while Song Qiyu seemed amused by Yao He.

Yao He felt awkward and offered to buy food, though he later abandoned the idea to follow the others. While the crowd gathered for the assembly, Ban'er suggested they use the distraction to sneak into Wu's house and search for clues. Song Qiyu, eager for a good story, agreed to join them, emphasizing the need for careful investigation. Two Kaifeng Prefecture guards were supposed to be securing Wu's house but abandoned their post to watch the assembly.

This allowed Zhao Ban'er, Zhao Mo'er, Song Qiyu, and Yao He to enter. Yao He was visibly terrified, muttering prayers. Inside, Ban'er led the search. She discovered two holes in a beam with rope marks, deducing the body had been suspended by ropes threaded through them, pulled by someone hiding in a blind spot by the door. Song Qiyu mentioned a newspaper article claiming Hat Demons left victims' hair on their bodies, suggesting hair could be a distraction.

Their investigation was cut short when the guards returned, realizing the house was empty. The four quickly scaled the wall to escape. Just then, Wen Yue arrived, telling them to hurry and leave via the back door, explaining she came because they were about to be arrested. She scolded them for getting involved and sneaking out, pointing out the danger they faced despite Song Qiyu working for the press and Yao He being a coroner.

Mo'er argued that the Kaifeng Prefecture had unfairly arrested Sun Bo and wouldn't investigate properly. Wen Yue acknowledged his desire to help his friend but warned them she couldn't always save them. They apologized, promising not to hide their activities again. Wen Yue questioned Ban'er's interest in detective work over medicine, and Ban'er replied they just wanted to help Sun Bo.

At the demon-hunting assembly, a master prepared to "fry the demon" in a boiling pot, proclaiming his ritual would reveal any demon. As the master performed his ritual, Zhao Buyou stepped forward. He reached into the "boiling" pot, washing his hands, and announced the liquid was sour, revealing the trick involved vinegar, not boiling oil. He exposed the master as a fraud. Suddenly, two hat-like objects appeared in the sky. The crowd screamed, believing they were Hat Demons.

Zhao Buyou identified them as sky lanterns and easily knocked them down. He publicly declared that Hat Demons did not exist and that these were just tricks created by malicious people to cause fear and manipulate the property market. The crowd, relieved but confused about Wu Xiang's death, questioned how he died if there was no Hat Demon. Zhao Buyou promised that the case would be investigated and the murderer caught. Zhang Zeduan was among the crowd, sketching the scene.

Zhao Buyou was then summoned by Zhang Qiniang, who told him they should talk elsewhere, and he boarded her carriage. Wen Yue and the group, who had arrived and witnessed the events, saw Zhao Buyou leave with Zhang Qiniang. Wen Yue instructed Mo'er and Ban'er not to mention seeing him there and said she would not mention seeing them, while preventing them from trying to follow him immediately.

Early the next morning, Zhao Buyou returned home to find the door locked. He climbed over the wall and was met by a neighbor jokingly asking if he was locked out by his wife again. Inside, Wen Yue was already awake, stating she couldn't sleep because he had been out all night. Zhao Buyou claimed he was with a "new friend," and they had talked until morning. Wen Yue inquired about this friend who kept him from coming home and then noticed the faint smell of rouge on him.

Episode 8 Recap

Waking early, Wen Yue found Zhao Buyou was not home. He eventually climbed back over the wall, and Wen Yue smelled the scent of rouge on him, instantly suspecting an affair with Zhang Qiniang. Despite his attempts to explain, she was furious and ignored him. Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er also arrived, sharing Wen Yue's suspicions about Zhao Buyou's whereabouts the previous night.

Zhao Buyou, anxious to appease Wen Yue and deflect their questions, offered them some chilled lychees he had brought back. They eagerly took them, but Wen Yue was too upset to make breakfast. She gave Mo and Ban money to buy food, promising to cook dinner when she returned from the umbrella shop. When Zhao Buyou asked for honey-glazed tofu, she gave him the cold shoulder, although she agreed to make cinnamon-vine soup for Mo.

At her mansion, Zhang Qiniang reflected on the previous night. She had invited Zhao Buyou to her private chambers after witnessing his skill in handling the "Hat Demon" incident. She tried to entice him, but he steadfastly refused her advances. He made it clear he was married and deeply loved his wife, Wen Yue. When pressed about his motives for helping, he insisted he was only interested in the monetary reward posted on the notice.

Annoyed by his lack of interest in her wealth or beauty, Zhang Qiniang was left seething after he left. Kang Qian, her steward, cautioned her about Zhao Buyou, but she dismissed him. Zhang Qiniang then instructed Kang Qian to hire two skilled guards to enhance security around the mansion. The next morning, Wen Yue arrived at Zhang Qiniang's mansion. The gatekeepers tried to prevent her entry, but she easily overpowered them.

Kang Qian, alerted by the commotion, brought out the newly hired guards to deal with her. Wen Yue, armed with a cinnamon-vine stick, quickly defeated them. Recognizing her formidable skills and suspecting she might be there regarding the property agency incident, Kang Qian quickly adopted a deferential attitude and invited her inside. Zhang Qiniang herself came out to receive her. When Wen Yue hadn't returned by evening, Zhao Buyou made dinner.

Zhao Mo'er suggested they wait for Wen Yue to make cinnamon-vine soup. Zhao Ban'er, still curious, questioned Zhao Buyou about his activities with Zhang Qiniang the previous night. Zhao Buyou, unable to disclose that he was hired with a hundred taels of gold to kill Zhang Qiniang and was actually there to investigate the "Hat Demon" claim, offered vague excuses.

When he learned that Mo, Ban, and even Wen Yue had seen him getting into Zhang Qiniang's elaborate carriage, he was dismayed. He tried to explain that he was just seeking the reward money to buy a larger house with two south-facing rooms for them. Mo and Ban remained unconvinced and expressed their disdain for his actions. Later, Zhao Li accidentally found the pouch containing the hundred taels of gold.

Recognizing the pouch as a "royal artifact," he suspected the money came from Zhang Qiniang and warned Zhao Buyou not to accept such ill-gotten gains, leaving Zhao Buyou speechless. At Zhang Qiniang's mansion, she offered Wen Yue a special face cream. Wen Yue was impatient, wanting only to know why Zhang Qiniang had summoned her husband the previous night. Upon realizing that Wen Yue was Zhao Buyou's wife, Zhang Qiniang became openly sarcastic.

She exaggerated her interaction with Zhao Buyou, claiming he had peeled lychees for her and complimented his smooth hands. Unwilling to back down, Wen Yue retorted that Zhao Buyou's hands were usually busy washing her feet and that peeling lychees must have been an unusual task for him. Zhang Qiniang was left without a response. Zhang Qiniang, through Kang Qian, gave a substantial sum of money to Wan Fu, asking him to smooth over the Hat Demon case.

Wan Fu showed the money to Gu Zhen as was customary before distributing it to the veterans. Gu Zhen, upon learning that Wan Fu had arrested an errand boy named Sun Bo as a scapegoat, instructed him to return the money to Zhang Qiniang. Recognizing that Wan Fu couldn't handle the complexities of the Zhang family's involvement in the case alone, Gu Zhen advised Wan Fu to assist Zhao Buyou with the investigation.

The night before, after leaving Zhang Qiniang, Zhao Buyou had visited Gu Zhen to inquire about Zhang Qiniang's background. Gu Zhen revealed that she had powerful connections and warned Zhao Buyou not to provoke her. He recounted the case of a young tutor and his family who disappeared after the tutor began working for Zhang Qiniang, suggesting her potential involvement despite the lack of concrete proof.

He also mentioned Zhang Qiniang's possessive attitude, citing her saying she would "paste a yellow seal" on things she liked to claim them as her own. Gu Zhen emphasized the importance of investigating the case thoroughly, rather than letting it be buried at Zhang Qiniang's behest. Meanwhile, Song Qiyu successfully negotiated with his boss to revise and print the article he wrote about Zhao Mo'er, changing "bitter ashes" to "bitter soil."

He proudly gave a copy to Zhao Mo'er, which Zhao Ban'er greatly admired. The three of them, along with Yao He, decided to continue their investigation and returned to re-examine Wu Xiang's body. Although they found only minor, non-fatal injuries to his head and no signs of poisoning, Zhao Ban'er noticed Wu Xiang's right eye was bloodshot and felt a slight depression on his head, regretting she hadn't felt it more carefully earlier.

Upon further examination and consulting Yao He's father's coroner's notebook, they concluded based on the location of "livor mortis" (discoloration) that Wu Xiang had died while lying face-up, meaning he was already dead when he was hung up, disproving the "Hat Demon" theory. Zhao Buyou arrived at Wu Xiang's home to investigate the crime scene, joined by Wan Fu and his men. Zhao Buyou meticulously searched the house.

In Wu Xiang's room, he found evidence of worship of Han Xin for wealth, noting the presence of a censer and the inscription "Grant me wealth," contrary to Wan Fu's initial suspicion that the family were spies studying military strategy. Zhao Buyou also observed an oil mark on the table where an oil lamp should have been, indicating a missing item. Zhao Mo'er, Zhao Ban'er, Song Qiyu, and Yao He arrived to report their findings about the head injury.

Zhao Buyou, concerned for their safety, sternly told them to stop interfering in the dangerous case, particularly since the crime scene had been tampered with. He sent them away, leaving Zhao Mo'er feeling frustrated about her uncertain future, having been dismissed from medical studies and feeling she made a significant error as a coroner. Yao He tried to comfort Zhao Ban'er, expressing his feelings for her indirectly by saying he couldn't be without her because he was easily frightened.

Later, Zhao Buyou visited a female wrestling arena, where Hei Sijie and He Sainiang were competing. He inquired about Wu Xiang, learning that he was a frequent visitor with terrible gambling luck who had recently lost a fortune equivalent to a house's value in a single round and had even fainted on the spot. While he was there, Zhang Qiniang arrived, stating she wanted to ensure he wasn't slacking on the investigation. She pressed him to let her join him, but Zhao Buyou refused her persistent invitations, eventually leaving to investigate on his own.

Episode 9 Recap

Zhao Buyou visits a rouge shop, inquiring about Qibai Powder. The manager recognizes him and is surprised by his visit. Just then, Zhang Qiniang arrives and follows him into the shop. Zhao Buyou mentions he was recommended the powder by Lady Wu from Wu's bao shop. The manager confirms that Lady Wu is a regular customer who uses the powder daily and purchases two boxes every month.

While Zhao Buyou is at the shop, Wen Yue arrives looking for hand cream. She spots Zhao Buyou with Zhang Qiniang. Zhang Qiniang greets Wen Yue, noting that they have met before and implying they recently discussed makeup tips. Wen Yue, appearing displeased, tells Zhao Buyou she needs him for something and asks him to leave with her.

Zhang Qiniang points out that Zhao Buyou hasn't finished his work and playfully suggests he should go with Wen Yue since he's known to be henpecked. Zhao Buyou tells Wen Yue to go home and make dinner as he is busy with his investigation. Zhang Qiniang then comments on how authoritative Zhao Buyou seems at home. Meanwhile, Zhao Mo'er is engaged in an experiment at home. Zhao Ban'er asks if he is making ice.

He finishes his work and uses a fire lighter, causing a device to float upwards. Excited, he shows his father, Zhao Li, how it flew and concludes that this must be the method used by the Hat Demon. Zhao Buyou visits Wu Qiao at her home to question her further about her cousin, Wu Xiang's, death. He asks about her brother, Wu Ao, who is at the store.

Zhao Buyou brings up Wu Xiang's heavy gambling and how he lost their family mansion, questioning if Wu Qiao feels the loss of the money they earned through hard work selling bao. He asks to see her arm, noting burn marks that look like they are from lamp oil, which contradicts her earlier statement about being burned at a clinic.

Observing that Wu Xiang was found dead on the second floor, he asks how she could have gone up with her disability, suggesting she might have gotten out of her wheelchair. He supports this by pointing out that wheelchair users typically have clean shoes and skirt hems, while hers are dirty. He also mentions finding Qibai Powder on her high dressing table, suggesting her brothers must have helped her reach it, noticing her reaction confirms this.

He then proposes that she and Wu Ao may have brought the night watchman home with them the night of the murder to create a cover-up for the real killer. Wu Qiao asks Zhao Buyou if investigators only focus on the outcome, but he assures her he believes in understanding the cause as well.

She recounts her life after her parents died, when she and Wu Ao were taken in by their cousin, Wu Xiang, a dissolute man who forced her to pretend to be paralyzed and sell bao from a wheelchair to gain sympathy and earn more money. The plan was successful, allowing her to earn enough to buy back their old family home. She explains that with money, Wu Xiang became more controlling and abusive towards her and Wu Ao.

On the night he died, Wu Xiang had lost a significant amount gambling and was violently demanding the property deed from them. When Wu Ao tried to protect it, Wu Xiang began strangling him. In a panic to save her brother, Wu Qiao got out of her wheelchair, grabbed an oil lamp, and killed Wu Xiang. Zhao Buyou expresses understanding for her actions, acknowledging the courage it took to protect her home and family.

He advises her to go with him to the Kaifeng Court to surrender to Inspector Gu and explain everything to seek a lenient sentence. At the Kaifeng Court, Wan Fu takes Wu Qiao into custody, praising Zhao Buyou's skills and inviting him for a drink. Wen Yue suddenly appears, causing Wan Fu to quickly leave. Wen Yue confronts Zhao Buyou about where he was the previous night. He claims he was working on a case and looking for clues.

Wen Yue demands an explanation regarding Zhang Qiniang. Zhao Buyou explains he took on the Hat Demon case because Zhang Qiniang offered a large reward, and he wanted to earn money to buy Wen Yue a mansion. Wen Yue is skeptical, asking if he is only now deciding to be ambitious for their family.

She questions his interest in Zhang Qiniang, sarcastically mentioning Zhang Qiniang's rouge and his skill at peeling iced lychees, and suggests he might prefer to live with Zhang Qiniang. Zhao Buyou complains that she is saying things to make Inspector Gu envious. Gu Zhen, who has been within earshot, intervenes.

He shows Wen Yue a package marked with a dagger symbol and reveals that someone has offered 100 taels of gold to kill Zhang Qiniang, suggesting it's the same person who hired Xiao Yishui. He speculates that this person didn't want Zhao Buyou to know and potentially flee, so they came to Gu Zhen instead seeking help to uncover the truth. Zhao Buyou admits he took the commission to make money, acknowledging Gu Zhen has found his weakness.

Gu Zhen confirms the commission was intended for Wen Yue and believes Zhao Buyou is capable of earning the money. Feeling sidelined by Zhao Buyou's secrecy, Wen Yue declares she will take the commission herself, takes the bag of gold, and leaves. Zhao Buyou then boasts to Gu Zhen about having two women fighting over him, which Gu Zhen finds amusing.

After meeting with Commander Tao, Gu Zhen and Zhao Buyou go to a bathhouse to rid themselves of the lingering scents. Zhao Buyou asks Gu Zhen not to tell Wen Yue about their meeting with Commander Tao, and Gu Zhen agrees on condition that Zhao Buyou doesn't tell Wan Fu.

Gu Zhen reflects on their findings, noting Zhang Qiniang's connection to the powerful Mr. Zou from the South and the intriguing coincidence of the reappearance of the commissioner and the Hat Demon case. He asks Zhao Buyou if he still plans to earn the 100 taels, and Zhao Buyou confirms he does. Gu Zhen reminds him he only has two days left. Elsewhere, Zhang Qiniang speaks with her steward, Kang Qian.

She mentions that a quail soup is made from hundreds of quail tongues, indicating she is aware of details. She questions whether such matters need to be reported to her foster father and makes it clear that upsetting her foster father is equivalent to upsetting her, warning Kang Qian against being overly talkative. She states she knows her foster father sent Kang Qian to her and asks him to speak favorably of her.

Kang Qian assures her he will not speak rashly. Zhang Qiniang then dismisses him, saying he has ruined her appetite and suggesting the quail tongue soup is fitting for him since he seems to enjoy "chewing tongues." At dinner at home, Wen Yue is silent, making Zhao Buyou visibly nervous as he watches her. Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er are also quiet.

Zhao Mo'er eventually says he is full and wants to visit Sun Bo, asking if he has been cleared now that Wu Qiao confessed. Zhao Buyou says he will go to the Kaifeng Court to ask Inspector Gu about it. Wen Yue immediately states she will go with him, insisting that since the commission was addressed to her, she needs to understand the situation and will go wherever he goes.

Later, Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er are together and feel hungry. Zhao Ban'er shares a snack she bought for Sun Bo with Zhao Mo'er. They visit the lodging house where Sun Bo lives, but the landlord tells them Sun Bo, also known as Yi, just left to run errands immediately after being released from prison, needing to earn money quickly. He suggests Sun Bo went towards Mahang Street. After leaving, Zhao Ban'er comments on Sun Bo's difficult life.

Zhao Mo'er advises her not to directly ask him about it. Zhao Ban'er gives Zhao Mo'er her remaining money, asking him to buy Sun Bo a useful gift. Zhao Mo'er then tells Zhao Ban'er to go home and supervise their father, who is playing cards, to ensure he doesn't lose everything while Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue are out. Zhao Ban'er agrees and leaves. Zhao Mo'er is left holding a hat-like object.

While Zhao Mo'er is out, he witnesses a figure he identifies as the Hat Demon causing widespread panic on the street. People flee in terror. The figure emits black smoke and behaves erratically, alternating between crying and laughing, before collapsing and dying. Zhao Mo'er recognizes the figure as Kang Qian, Zhang Qiniang's steward. Onlookers express shock, noting this Hat Demon looks different from the previous one.

Zhao Buyou visits Gu Zhen, who is in a garden, and asks about the Wu family case. Gu Zhen tells him that Wu Qiao confessed to everything, claiming her brother Wu Ao was innocent. Lacking evidence against Wu Ao, Gu Zhen released him. Regarding the Hat Demon, Gu Zhen says Wu Qiao also confessed to it but couldn't provide any details.

Gu Zhen believes Wu Qiao killed her cousin but is not the real Hat Demon perpetrator, and that the Hat Demon incident was a cover-up for their crime. He explains he released Wu Ao as a strategic move to observe who he might contact. Zhao Buyou praises this tactic, calling it a clever way to draw out the true culprits.

Just as Zhao Buyou is speaking with Gu Zhen, Zhao Mo'er rushes to them, breathless, announcing that Zhang Qiniang has arrived at their house with a group of people and has entered. He insists he did not invite her. Wen Yue immediately reacts. At the Zhao residence, Zhang Qiniang arrives in a lavish carriage, drawing attention and envious comments from neighbors who believe the Zhao family must be connected to royalty. Zhang Qiniang begins directing the redecoration of the house.

Inside, she is happily chatting with Zhao Li, who admires flowers she has arranged and praises the newfound royal elegance of their home. Feeling inspired, Zhao Li recites a poem. Zhao Buyou, Wen Yue, and Zhao Mo'er arrive home. Zhao Buyou confronts Zhang Qiniang, demanding to know why she is there and why she is altering their home.

She calmly states that she intends to live there, leaving Zhao Buyou, Wen Yue, and Zhao Mo'er completely stunned, though Zhao Li remains pleased by her presence. Wen Yue tells Zhao Mo'er to take Zhao Li to his room, but Zhao Li is eager to show Wen Yue some calligraphy and paintings. Wen Yue directly asks Zhang Qiniang her purpose.

Zhang Qiniang explains she came because Zhao Buyou promised to help her find the Hat Demon's killer, and now her steward, Kang Qian, has been killed by the Hat Demon, making her afraid she might be next. Wen Yue comments that Zhang Qiniang doesn't seem like she would be afraid. Zhang Qiniang admits she isn't afraid but dislikes being an exposed target while her enemy is hidden.

She acknowledges that her presence, coinciding with the Hat Demon incidents, might seem suspicious but views it as fate bringing them together due to Wen Yue's courage and Zhao Buyou's intelligence. She believes she will be safe staying with them. As they are talking, Zhao Ban'er excitedly rushes in, holding a large, hat-like object and declaring that she has captured the Hat Demon.

Episode 10 Recap

Zhao Ban, carrying a small crossbow, spotted the Hat Demon in the street. She shot it down and excitedly rushed home to inform Zhao Buyou, with a crowd following her to witness the spectacle. Zhao Mo examined the prop resembling a hat, discovering gunpowder on it. He explained that military officers used gunpowder on crossbow bolts to increase speed. Lady Zhang Qiniang praised Zhao Mo for his knowledge.

Zhao Buyou, fearing Lady Zhang's attention towards Mo, promised to catch the Hat Demon quickly and urged her to return to her mansion to await news. Lady Zhang, finding the Zhao family intriguing, insisted on staying, even demanding to share a room with Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue. Lady Zhang adopted the air of a hostess, replacing the bedroom furniture entirely and buying a large new bed for the three of them. Zhao Buyou was inwardly dismayed.

Seeing that Lady Zhang had no intention of leaving, Wen Yue showed her a pouch of gold and revealed that someone had hired her to kill Lady Zhang, with only two days left until the deadline. Lady Zhang, relying on her stepfather Zou Mian's backing, admitted she had made many enemies in East Capital through her ruthless business practices. She offered Wen Yue ten times the bounty.

Wen Yue declined the money, stating her goal was to find the person who sent the order, as they must be connected to the Hat Demon case. She proposed becoming Lady Zhang's personal bodyguard to investigate, using Lady Zhang as bait. Lady Zhang agreed, planning to take Wen Yue back to her mansion the next day. That night, Lady Zhang, Ban, and Wen Yue slept on the same bed.

Lady Zhang pestered Wen Yue with questions, but Wen Yue was unresponsive. Ban intervened, warning Lady Zhang, who then quieted down. Before dawn, Zhao Buyou woke to make breakfast. Lady Zhang teased him about being afraid of his wife, but Zhao Buyou explained it was his first time cooking breakfast, doing so because Wen Yue was going to the Zhang Mansion that day.

In front of Lady Zhang, Zhao Buyou openly expressed his deep love for Wen Yue, speaking of how her hands became rough from working hard to support the family when he was useless and his father was ill. Lady Zhang, both envious and regretful, reflected on a past love that was now gone. After breakfast, Wen Yue left in Lady Zhang's carriage. Zhao Buyou, Ban, and Mo bid her a reluctant farewell.

Zhao Buyou watched until the carriage was out of sight before turning his attention back to the case. He asked Ban and Mo to help him investigate the Hat Demon, noting it was the fourth day since he took the case. Meanwhile, Gu Zhen summoned Zhao Buyou to Kaifeng Court.

It was revealed that Kang Qian had been drinking with a commander from the Imperial Guards before his death, and the commander was now under suspicion and had been brought in. The commander vehemently protested his innocence. Zhao Buyou and Gu Zhen calmly reassured him, urging him to tell the truth. The commander explained that he and Kang Qian were old acquaintances who often drank together.

The previous night, Kang Qian felt dizzy and nauseous after only a little wine, then ran out acting delirious, and later died in the street. The commander disclosed that the Hat Demon was a hoax orchestrated by Kang Qian five years ago. He explained that rumors of the Hat Demon only circulated in the Yanglou Street area, causing property prices to plummet. Lady Zhang took advantage of this, buying up most of the street.

Later, news spread that a noble's garden would be built there, and the Hat Demon suddenly stopped appearing. Property values on Yanglou Street then soared, allowing the Zhang family to make a substantial profit. The commander implied that the Imperial Guards did not intervene because of Lady Zhang's powerful connections. Wan Fu, claiming the key to the restraints was in the prison, had the commander taken to the cells.

Gu Zhen concluded that Kang Qian's death was connected to the Hat Demon case. He decided to visit Kang Qian's wife for more information, but finding it inappropriate for two men, he asked Zhao Buyou to bring Ban along. Gu Zhen, Zhao Buyou, and Ban went to Kang Qian's house, where his wife, Chun Xi, was mourning alone. Ban noticed burn marks on Chun Xi's arm, caused by a branding iron.

Looking around the house, they found many cosmetics, including expensive Fourfold Noble Incense and a large bronze mirror, but no lip rouge. Chun Xi explained these items belonged to Kang Qian, who painstakingly maintained his appearance to please Lady Zhang, as required by her household rules. Mo excused herself to go to the autopsy room to assist Yao He with Kang Qian's examination.

As she left, Zhao Buyou subtly mentioned to Gu Zhen about the possibility of Mo joining Kaifeng Court, but Gu Zhen did not give a direct answer. Zhao Buyou then noticed the tea stall owner across the street watching them. He and Gu Zhen went for tea and inquired about the Kang couple. Zhao Buyou noticed the tea stall owner also had the expensive Fourfold Noble Incense.

The owner admitted Kang Qian gave it to her and others, asking them to watch Chun Xi, who rarely left the house. From the branding iron burns on Chun Xi's arm and the tea stall owner's account, Zhao Buyou and Gu Zhen suspected Kang Qian had abused his wife. Gu Zhen ordered his men to keep a close watch on Chun Xi.

Ban, Mo, and Yao He completed Kang Qian's autopsy, determining he was poisoned, and the poison was delivered through lip rouge. Wan Fu reported that three errand boys, Zhang Siwu, Yan Shun, and Chen Xiaoyi, regularly delivered goods to Chun Xi's home and were the only people she had consistent contact with. Wan Fu had them brought in, and they provided delivery records from the past three months, listing cosmetics, injury treatments, and daily necessities, but no poison.

Zhao Buyou, finding no evidence of poison on the list, ordered Wan Fu to release them. However, Zhao Buyou noticed Chen Xiaoyi's unusual behavior and, after ordering the three released, instructed Wan Fu to specifically tail Chen Xiaoyi. Zhao Buyou suspected Chun Xi and Chen Xiaoyi might have colluded to kill Kang Qian using the Hat Demon plot. Wan Fu followed Chen Xiaoyi, who, unlike the others, went straight home instead of taking more delivery jobs.

Zhao Buyou went to Chen Xiaoyi's home and found Sun Bo there. It turned out Sun Bo and Chen Xiaoyi were roommates, and Sun Bo recognized Zhao Buyou, having been classmates with Zhao Mo years ago. Zhao Buyou visited Zhang Zeduan at the Academy of Painting. Zhang Zeduan had been painting street scenes, including the Hat Demon. Zhao Buyou examined his recent works.

He noticed a painting of Yanglou Street during a Hat Demon appearance where, unlike the rest of the crowd looking up at the Hat Demon, Chun Xi and an errand boy were looking directly at each other. Zhao Buyou recognized the errand boy from a detail in the painting, a red knot on a food box he was carrying. Remembering Sun Bo's earlier remark about "just trying to make a living," Zhao Buyou realized the errand boy in the painting was Sun Bo.

Episode 11 Recap

Following the closure of Wu's Restaurant, Zhao Ban'er continued to crave their steamed buns. Zhao Mo'er recalled that Sun Bo often ran errands in the Yanglou Street area, where Wu's Restaurant was located. Thinking Sun Bo must have known the Wu siblings well, and remembering Sun Bo's childhood fascination with fireworks, Mo'er suspected Sun Bo might be connected to the Hat Demon incidents. Zhao Buyou showed Zhang Zeduan's painting to Gu Zhen.

Gu Zhen interpreted the painting, noting how Sun Bo and Chunxi were solely focused on each other amidst the surrounding chaos of the Hat Demon incident. He saw this as evidence of their affair and a conspiracy to murder Kang Qian, suggesting they used the Hat Demon as a diversion so they could meet while bypassing the surveillance Kang Qian had arranged. Gu Zhen recalled that Wu Qiao had inquired about Sun Bo while she was imprisoned.

Zhao Buyou visited Wu Qiao in prison, initially offering legal assistance. When he informed her that Sun Bo had confessed to all the crimes, Wu Qiao became agitated and denied his involvement, offering all the money from her steamed bun shop to Zhao Buyou if he would represent Sun Bo. Zhao Buyou encouraged her to share what she knew about him.

Wu Qiao recounted their shared childhood in Yanglou Street, describing how Sun Bo's family lost their fortune after his gullible father sold their ancestral home cheaply during the Hat Demon rumors, subsequently gambling and drinking away their remaining wealth. She detailed the tragic death of his parents: his mother drowned his father after he got drunk and then committed suicide, leaving Sun Bo an orphan. Wu Qiao used to steal steamed buns for him.

Sun Bo had left suddenly and only recently reappeared. She also confirmed knowing Chunxi from Yanglou Street and explained Chunxi's plight: five years prior, Lady Zhang had forcibly taken her family's house at a low price, had her parents beaten to death, enslaved Chunxi, and later arranged her marriage to Kang Qian. Despite this, Wu Qiao revealed that Chunxi and Sun Bo were childhood sweethearts, betrothed from birth, and deeply in love.

Mo'er and Ban'er searched for Sun Bo at his supposed residence but could not find him. Zhao Buyou and Wan Fu arrived with officers. Xiao Yi, who had delivered messages, was questioned and accused of being an accomplice. Xiao Yi stated Sun Bo had returned briefly but hadn't said where he was going, leaving his savings with Xiao Yi as if he wouldn't return. Zhao Buyou and Wan Fu decided to search Kang Qian's house for Sun Bo and Chunxi.

Ban'er insisted that Sun Bo is a good person, and she and Mo'er urged Zhao Buyou to help him, worried about who might capture him. Zhao Buyou suggested being arrested by Kaifeng Court might be preferable. Lady Zhang entertained Wen Yue, who noticed preparations for a gathering. Lady Zhang revealed she was hosting difficult associates. She offered Wen Yue expensive wine, suggesting they drink a few cups, each with a topic about men.

For the first cup, she asked about Zhao Buyou. Wen Yue firmly stated Zhao Buyou is hers and knows their history. She challenged Lady Zhang to speak about her own man, the source of her influence. Lady Zhang agreed, recounting a parable about a magistrate and a wild horse, tamed by a girl using an iron whip, hammer, and dagger. She observed that while the man was powerful, the girl was perceived as crueler.

Lady Zhang reflected that men, regardless of age, are selfish, and women often bear the brunt of men's actions simply to survive, proposing a toast to that magistrate. Returning home, Zhao Buyou found his father, Zhao Li, missing. Neighbors confirmed he had gone to the bathhouse. Zhao Buyou found Zhao Li there, confused because he could not find his clothes or money, thinking someone was playing a trick on him.

After Zhao Buyou settled the bill, Zhao Li warned him not to reveal the details of the order he was working on to the authorities, explaining that someone had whispered this warning to him while he was bathing. Realizing the deadline for the order was tomorrow, Zhao Buyou became visibly worried. For the second cup, Lady Zhang introduced the topic of killing, asking Wen Yue how it felt. Wen Yue described it as a disgusting, nauseating experience.

Lady Zhang inquired why she killed if it felt so unpleasant. Wen Yue replied that to survive in a world overrun by "monsters," she had to protect herself, proposing a toast to the helplessness faced by women. Lady Zhang then turned to the topic of being loved, dismissing mutual love as a fleeting youthful fancy compared to enduring hardship together.

She voiced her strong aversion to traditional roles for women, asserting that she forged her own path and eliminated men who attempted to constrain her with affection, implying they were "buried" in her garden as fertilizer. Officials arrived at Chunxi's residence to arrest her for her husband's murder. However, officers from the Imperial Guard Department intervened with a warrant, stating they were taking custody of Chunxi as they were also investigating the Hat Demon case.

Despite protests and confusion, the Imperial Guard escorted Chunxi away, leaving the Kaifeng Court officials, including Wan Fu, empty-handed. Wan Fu reported this outcome. Gu Zhen informed Zhao Buyou that he had been ordered to leave for Chenliu immediately on urgent business, requiring him to cease his involvement in the Hat Demon case investigation. He noted that the orderer's deadline was also tomorrow.

Gu Zhen revealed that Lady Zhang was associated with Zou Mian, and many powerful individuals involved in her profitable schemes were meeting at the Zhang Mansion tomorrow, their meeting prompted by the disruption caused by the Hat Demon incident. When Zhao Buyou learned that the Imperial Guard had taken Chunxi, he recognized the perilous position this put Wen Yue in.

He understood Lady Zhang now had the upper hand, and without Chunxi as leverage, he could not secure Wen Yue's release, fearing Lady Zhang would harm her. Rushing to the Zhang Mansion, he was stopped by guards. Wan Fu arrived to assist but was also denied entry. Zhao Buyou expressed his despair at losing the means to protect Wen Yue.

Wan Fu attempted to console him, claiming Kaifeng Court was capable, but conceded that even Gu Zhen couldn't force their way inside. Lady Zhang told Wen Yue she felt a kinship with her from the start but resented seeing someone similar to herself possess a happy marriage and family, which she lacked. She implied she poisoned the wine they drank. Wen Yue was then apprehended and taken away within the mansion. Wen Yue and Chunxi were imprisoned together.

Lady Zhang confronted them, labeling them "miserable lovebirds." She questioned Chunxi about Sun Bo's location, believing they had a secret way to communicate. Chunxi denied knowing where he was now that she was captured. Lady Zhang showed the key found on Chunxi, guessing it led to their meeting spot. She taunted Chunxi, suggesting Sun Bo was heartless for leaving her. Chunxi defended Sun Bo, saying she owed him everything while he owed her nothing.

Chunxi tearfully recounted Kang Qian's abuse and how Sun Bo planned to rescue her and start a new life in a distant village, blaming Lady Zhang for ruining their plans. Lady Zhang dismissed their relationship, claiming men are driven by desire, a notion Chunxi refuted, insisting their connection was pure. Lady Zhang then wondered aloud if Sun Bo would attempt to rescue Chunxi.

She turned her attention to Wen Yue, revealing her complex feelings of liking and wanting to kill her. She menacingly stated she planned to turn Zhao Buyou into "new flower fertilizer." The deadline for the order arrived. Zhao Buyou made preparations for a rescue attempt. Zhao Li gave him strict instructions to bring Wen Yue back safely. Mo'er and Ban'er assisted Zhao Buyou, seemingly preparing a device near a window, actively working to make it effective.

Qin shopkeeper, Commander Liu from the Imperial Guard Department, and other associates of Zou Mian gathered at the Zhang Mansion to confront Lady Zhang about the financial losses incurred due to the Hat Demon rumors, which had significantly lowered property prices in Yanglou Street and nearby areas. Qin shopkeeper angrily threatened to report her to Zou Mian. Lady Zhang dismissed his complaints, highlighting the immense wealth she had already generated for them.

She boldly revealed that she knew Qin shopkeeper had many enemies and claimed she killed him on behalf of his own son, Master Qin, who desired his death, terrifying the other attendees. Despite the shock, Lady Zhang proposed a new, highly profitable scheme: intentionally create more Hat Demon incidents in other districts to manipulate land prices, allowing them to buy low and sell high after the Imperial Guard conveniently resolves the "crisis."

Commander Liu praised the ambition of this plan but expressed uncertainty about finding someone capable of creating the Hat Demons. Lady Zhang revealed her plan to Commander Liu: she was using Chunxi as bait because Chunxi's lover, Sun Bo, was the Hat Demon maker, having spread the news of Chunxi's capture to draw him out. Sun Bo then appeared, having been captured and brought in. Lady Zhang mockingly welcomed him and displayed Chunxi, who was restrained.

Sun Bo demanded Chunxi's release. Lady Zhang insulted Chunxi and ordered her physically punished, while Sun Bo was held back. Sun Bo offered his own life in exchange. Lady Zhang stated she wanted his expertise, not his life, demanding he make more Hat Demons capable of flight. When Sun Bo questioned her motive, Lady Zhang ordered further harm to Chunxi. Sun Bo quickly capitulated, agreeing to make the Hat Demons without further questions.

Lady Zhang then ordered Sun Bo to humiliate himself by licking something from the floor like a dog, which Sun Bo reluctantly did under duress. Lady Zhang further degraded him, calling him a disobedient dog. As Lady Zhang tormented Sun Bo, a large contingent of Kaifeng Court officers arrived at the Zhang Mansion gates. When questioned by the guards, the officers declared they were there on official business to apprehend a Hat Demon reportedly causing trouble inside, demanding entry.

Simultaneously, inside the mansion, Mo'er and Ban'er were seen fanning a pot containing what appeared to be crab meat soup near a window or vent, actively working to make the distraction device effective. Wen Yue was bound and confronted by a man preparing torture implements. He informed her Lady Zhang instructed him to make her uncomfortable. He reminisced about his time as a pirate, favoring the swift brutality of a tri-edged dagger for killing.

Before he could begin, Zhao Buyou and Wan Fu forced their way into the room. Zhao Buyou declared the torturer defeated. The man scoffed at Zhao Buyou and contrasted the current situation with the "more dignified" methods he used as a pirate, specifically mentioning a tri-edged dagger that resulted in swift, bloody death. The scene concluded with the standoff. A narrator provided an explanation about the role of reporter/journalist in the Song Dynasty, enabled by advancements in printing. They described how the emergence of mass-produced, affordable books led to tabloids publishing court secrets and gossip, breaking official control over information and establishing journalism as a profession.

Episode 12 Recap

Zhang Qiniang held Wen Yue captive in the mansion, ordering her guard to treat Wen Yue well while she was a prisoner. Zhang Qiniang's true goal was to force Zhao Buyou to quickly uncover the truth of the Hat Demon case. Meanwhile, Zhao Buyou, along with Mo and Ban, began assembling a large Hat Demon figure, discussing how to fan the fire to make it rise.

Zhang Qiniang had learned that Chun Xi and Sun Bo were the ones behind the Hat Demon incidents. She kept Wen Yue bound and under strict guard. Zhang Qiniang plotted with her allies in the capital, including Zou Mian, to use the Hat Demon incident as a cover for a large-scale scheme.

She planned to exploit her connections within the Imperial Guard Department to seize Chun Xi from Kaifeng Court custody, use Chun Xi as bait to lure Sun Bo, and then force him to create another Hat Demon scenario. Her ultimate goal was to take ownership of all the properties in the capital. Zhang Qiniang sent a killer to eliminate Wen Yue. Wen Yue fought back, managing to grab the killer's knife and cut her ropes.

As the killer recovered, they engaged in a fierce struggle. Worried Zhang Qiniang would silence Wen Yue, Zhao Buyou went to the Zhang Mansion demanding her release but was forcibly removed by the guards. Realizing direct confrontation wouldn't work, Zhao Buyou enlisted Mo and Ban to finalize their Hat Demon creation. Their plan was to use the Hat Demon as a diversion to draw attention away from Zhang Qiniang's mansion, allowing him to rescue Wen Yue during the ensuing chaos.

Zhao Buyou watched as the Hat Demon, propelled by the fire starters, slowly ascended into the air. He immediately headed towards the Zhang Mansion. At the same time, Wan Fu arrived with Kaifeng Court officers, ostensibly to capture the Hat Demon, but secretly planning to rescue Wen Yue, Chun Xi, and Sun Bo. The mansion guards blocked their entry, leading to a tense standoff. Suddenly, the Hat Demon appeared soaring above the Zhang Mansion, causing immediate panic.

Guards scattered in terror, and Wan Fu ordered his men to storm the mansion. Amidst the confusion, Zhao Buyou slipped inside to find Wen Yue. Wen Yue was locked in a desperate fight with the killer, her strength failing as he began to choke her. Just as she was about to be overcome, Zhao Buyou arrived and intervened. He grabbed a nearby stick and repeatedly struck the killer.

Knowing Zhao Buyou was a scholar and inexperienced in combat, and fearing reinforcements, Wen Yue urged him to stop and quickly pulled him away, telling him they needed to run. Inside the mansion, Zhang Qiniang tormented Chun Xi and Sun Bo. She found their suffering dulling and decided to rest. However, a servant rushed in with news that a Hat Demon was causing pandemonium at the mansion.

Despite having used the Hat Demon myth years ago to acquire properties at low prices and knowing it was fake, Zhang Qiniang was rattled by the widespread panic among her staff. She rushed out to investigate, yelling for someone to bring the "fake" Hat Demon down as her terrified household fled. Sun Bo managed to free himself, consoling Chun Xi before grabbing a knife. He confronted Zhang Qiniang's men, dismissing them as useless.

When Zhang Qiniang threatened Chun Xi's life if he didn't drop the knife, Sun Bo seized Zhang Qiniang, holding her hostage with the blade. Wan Fu and his men arrived, trying to persuade Sun Bo to calm down and telling him this action shouldn't fall to him. Zhang Qiniang attempted to negotiate, offering him and Chun Xi their freedom in exchange for her release.

Overwhelmed by the humiliation he had suffered at Zhang Qiniang's hands, Sun Bo was filled with intense hatred and was uncontrollable. Chun Xi rushed forward, urging Sun Bo to put the knife down and reminding him of their promise. Reluctantly, Sun Bo released Zhang Qiniang. Zhang Qiniang left the scene triumphantly, but not before unleashing a torrent of insults, calling Sun Bo a pathetic, lowly existence who only cared about surviving.

Unable to bear it any longer, Chun Xi plunged a blade into Zhang Qiniang from behind. As she died, Zhang Qiniang expressed surprise, knowing many people wanted her dead but never expecting it to be by Chun Xi's hand. Chun Xi then confessed to killing both Kang Qian and Zhang Qiniang, stating that Sun Bo was merely an accomplice whom she had manipulated.

She declared that she, a "lowly" person, had finally lived for herself and chose to atone for her sins with her own life. Taking the same knife, she committed suicide. Sun Bo collapsed, holding her body and sobbing uncontrollably, begging her not to leave him. Wan Fu and the others present were visibly moved by the tragic outcome. After concluding the Hat Demon case, Wan Fu encountered Gu Zhen, who had just returned from an investigation.

Eagerly, Wan Fu reported the case findings, including Zhang Qiniang's death and Chun Xi's suicide. Witnessing the downfall of the wicked Zhang Qiniang gave Wan Fu his first real sense of pride as a public servant. Gu Zhen led him to the stone tablet listing past prefects of Kaifeng Court, offering encouragement. Wan Fu acknowledged his limitations but felt a renewed determination to "protect the people."

Impressed, Gu Zhen gave Wan Fu his personal sword as a token of support, telling him to carry it on duty from then on. Sun Bo was imprisoned, which deeply saddened Mo. Ban tried to comfort him, discussing the inevitability of Sun Bo's exile but questioning if there was truly no other way for ordinary people like them to deal with such injustice. Ban assured Mo that she would fight for him if anyone ever hurt him.

Later, Zhao Buyou brought Wen Yue some fine hand balm, applying it for her. Wen Yue worried about the person who sent her the order, noting that Zhang Qiniang's death was merely a coincidence and not her doing, blaming the orderer for being imprecise. She decided the task was fulfilled but couldn't shake the feeling of being secretly watched, which unnerved her.

Zhao Buyou pleaded with Gu Zhen to show leniency towards Sun Bo, but Gu Zhen explained that Kaifeng Court only made arrests and had no say in sentencing. Sun Bo had revealed that he too was directed by someone else, who had sent him a letter instructing him how Kang Qian had staged the Hat Demon incident and how to retaliate in kind. Gu Zhen asked Zhao Buyou to try and uncover the identity of this unseen orderer.

He also offered Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue opportunities to work for Kaifeng Court, promising it would provide them with enough income to afford a house in the capital and assuring them of his support. Zhao Buyou felt he couldn't make the decision alone, but Gu Zhen revealed he had already spoken with Wen Yue, who had agreed to the arrangement.

Gu Zhen also gave Zhao Buyou a reward for his help in the Hat Demon case, adding an extra fifty percent and telling him to give it to Wen Yue first to make her happy. He knew about the orderer's previous offer of a hundred taels of gold to Wen Yue. Gu Zhen informed Zhao Buyou that Xiao Yishui had been sentenced to exile on Shamen Island and would never return.

Zhao Buyou immediately told Wen Yue, who expressed a desire to see her senior off. Zhao Buyou agreed to accompany her. At the prison, Wen Yue brought Xiao Yishui a jar of wine. Xiao Yishui addressed her as "Jiu" and seemed to believe she still harbored feelings for him. He claimed an orderer had bribed the guards escorting him, arranging for him to meet them halfway at the Wild Pine Forest outside Chenzhou Gate.

He planned to "ride the wave" of this opportunity. Wen Yue, however, vowed to completely sever ties with her past. Wen Yue decided to attend the meeting with the orderer to definitively end her involvement with the jianghu and live a normal life with Zhao Buyou. Zhao Buyou, worried, insisted on going with her.

She argued it was a jianghu matter he shouldn't meddle in, but he countered that he understood jianghu after years of copying case files at the Office of Justice. He correctly deciphered her code for the meeting time and location, realizing "later half of the Si hour" meant the hour before (Chen hour, 7-9 AM) and the "Wild Pine Forest" meant the opposite direction, leading to the Bian River pier.

Despite his protests and warnings, Wen Yue remained determined to go. Two guards escorted Xiao Yishui out of the city. Along the road, after the guards, prompted by Xiao Yishui, had removed his shackles, someone attacked and killed the guards, allowing Xiao Yishui to escape. Xiao Yishui made his way to the pier, the true meeting place. Despite his disguise, Wen Yue recognized him among the bustling crowd.

Suddenly, someone walked past Wen Yue and swiftly stabbed Xiao Yishui in the neck, killing him instantly. Wen Yue instinctively turned to chase the assassin, but Zhao Buyou grabbed her, forcefully pulling her away and urging her to stop and report the murder instead, warning her that the killer was a dangerous outlaw. Back home, Wen Yue resented Zhao Buyou for preventing her from catching the killer, believing she could have done it.

Zhao Buyou offered to face any jianghu troubles with her, but Wen Yue, acutely aware of the dangers, didn't want to involve him. She decided the only way to protect him and his family was to leave. She began packing her belongings, intending to move back to the umbrella shop. She told him he was just an "ordinary little man" who couldn't handle the seriousness of the situation.

Mo and Ban overheard their argument and tried to intervene, urging Zhao Buyou to chase after Wen Yue as she left, scolding him for arguing when he should have been supporting her. Zhao Buyou recalled their past: Wen Yue had learned the umbrella craft, mastering it in just two years before opening her own stall.

Later, Wen Yue, recognizing his limited prospects due to his humble background, had pragmatically proposed marriage to him, needing to settle down in the capital as a drifter. Zhao Buyou accepted, and they soon married. Wen Yue had later reflected on finding a home and family with him, living a good life after her difficult past.

Episode 13 Recap

After Wen Yue left, claiming it was to motivate Zhao Buyou, his sister Zhao Ban noticed his sadness. She visited Wen Yue at the umbrella shop, expressing concern that their family felt incomplete without her. Wen Yue maintained that her departure was to spur Zhao Buyou to ambition, citing his lack of promotion at the Office of Justice and unreliable attempts at a litigation booth.

Ban offered to help support the family, mentioning that Zhao Mo was getting carpentry work and she had found her own path. When Wen Yue asked what she meant, Ban revealed her intention to become a coroner, explaining that her strength made her unsuited for being a physician but well-suited for working with bodies.

Despite acknowledging the unconventional nature and potential criticism for a woman, Ban stated her determination, emphasizing how difficult it is to find something one loves and is good at. Wen Yue fully supported her decision, promising to stand up for her against any criticism, although she warned it might make marriage difficult. Ban declared she wouldn't marry if her choice of profession was an issue, preferring to stay with Wen Yue forever, which Wen Yue gently dismissed.

Ban then promised to monitor Zhao Buyou's progress as requested by Wen Yue before she left. Meanwhile, Gu Zhen reviewed the details of Xiao Yishui's murder, noting the fatal wound was a thin, deep cut from an unknown weapon. He suspected the attacker was the orderer who had arranged to meet Xiao Yishui. Aware of informants within the Kaifeng Court, Gu Zhen decided to have Zhao Buyou investigate the case secretly, requesting updates on his progress.

Zhao Buyou readily accepted, hoping to help Wen Yue and prove his capabilities. He explained that he hadn't involved the Kaifeng Court earlier because he distrusted the power structures at play, comparing the situation to "deities fighting" and civilians being better off staying out of it, a lesson his father had once taught him after he was beaten for watching such a play. However, Buyou concluded that even a "petty man" should dare to look up and investigate.

Gu Zhen acknowledged Buyou's courage and trust, agreeing to his secret investigation plan. Song Qiyu, having recommended Zhao Mo for carpentry work, received a delivery of wood from Mo at the Taoyuan Welfare Center. Zhao Mo thanked him for the opportunity. Song Qiyu mentioned needing to prepare for the upcoming imperial exam, explaining his aspiration to become an official who could truly help the common people.

Inspired, Zhao Mo expressed his own desire to join the officialdom, specifically the Office of Justice, to advocate for people like Sun Bo. To help Zhao Mo in his pursuit, Song Qiyu brought him to the Nanshan Tea House, where the esteemed Seven Scholars of Dongshui were holding a lecture. As they arrived, they passed Kong Er, an examinee, though the interaction's rudeness wasn't explicitly detailed. Song Qiyu introduced Zhao Mo to the mentors.

Zhang Mei, one of the scholars, recognized Zhao Mo's name from his role in figuring out the trick in the Mei's Boat case and offered to introduce him to the Kaifeng Judge, praising the judge's character. Zhao Mo politely declined, stating his interest was in joining the Office of Justice to handle cases for the public. Zhang Mei then suggested he study law at the Academy, offering it as an alternative path if his foundational studies were lacking.

Zheng Min, another scholar, warmly welcomed Zhao Mo to attend their lectures. Zhao Mo invited Song Qiyu to dinner at his home that evening, and Song Qiyu happily accepted, surprised and pleased to have made a friend. Later, Zhao Ban and Yao He encountered Mrs. Xie, whose eyes were swollen, suggesting she had been crying, though she claimed she hadn't slept well. Ban tried to comfort her, but Mrs. Xie quickly left.

That evening, Song Qiyu joined the Zhao family and others for dinner. Zhao Mo seized the opportunity to announce his intention to participate in the imperial exam and join the Office of Justice, believing that stricter laws and more diligent officials were needed to prevent tragedies and help victims. Song Qiyu supported his ambition, suggesting he would excel at case review and envisioning them working together as influential officials. While others celebrated, Zhao Buyou appeared less enthusiastic.

Having worked at the Office of Justice for over a decade, he knew its complexities and worried that Zhao Mo's straightforward personality was ill-suited for such a place. Perplexed by the unique wound on Xiao Yishui, Zhao Buyou sought information from butchers. He questioned Uncle Zhu, and the butcher's daughter, Xi, told him about the exceptionally sharp knives used at the Jixiantang Bookshop for cutting tabloids, mentioning their thin and sharp nature. Zhao Buyou immediately decided to investigate the bookshop.

Coincidentally, a neighbor showed Wen Yue a tabloid from the same bookshop. Upon smelling it, Wen Yue recognized the scent as identical to the note from the orderer and rushed to the Jixiantang Bookshop. Wen Yue and Zhao Buyou arrived at the bookshop simultaneously and were surprised to see each other. While examining the shop and its special ink fragrance, Wen Yue spotted a suspicious figure whom she recognized as the killer. She immediately gave chase.

The person fled, climbing over a wall, with Wen Yue in close pursuit and Zhao Buyou following. The chase led them to a shop of mules and horses, where the killer disappeared. Wen Yue caught sight of Song Qiyu in the distance. Zhao Buyou then arrived, and after confirming the killer got away, Wen Yue, feeling she had hindered the pursuit, left with Zhao Buyou. Later, Zhao Mo visited Song Qiyu at the Taoyuan Welfare Center.

He saw a poetry collection and learned that Song Qiyu's pen name was "The Unsilenceable," inspired by a quote about speaking up for justice rather than remaining silent. Song Qiyu explained he hoped to publish his work but lacked funds, which he hoped to gain after passing the exam. Zhao Mo offered his help. Song Qiyu then shared that he was moving to Mrs. Xie's house, conveniently located near Zhao Mo's, to focus on exam preparation.

Neighbors, including Mrs. Xie and Mrs. Lan, helped him move. Mrs. Lan cautioned Song Qiyu about the legend of the "ghost examiner" who supposedly targets wicked scholars before exams. Other neighbors added dramatic details about the ghost's appearance. Song Qiyu dismissed the stories as baseless rumors, stating that even if such a ghost existed, he would not be a target as he was upright, though he humorously added he would run if necessary.

Wen Yue visited Song Qiyu to ask about his presence at the shop of mules and horses, but Song Qiyu denied being there, claiming he was home preparing for his move. Zhao Buyou arrived shortly after. Wen Yue did not press Song Qiyu further and left with Buyou. On the day of the imperial exam, Zhao Mo brought Song Qiyu a "Top-Scholar Cake" for good luck, finding Jian Zhuang and Zhang Mei already present.

The mentors expressed their concern for Song Qiyu, who appeared stressed and quiet, asking Zhao Mo to comfort him. Jian Zhuang mentioned hiring a donkey cart for Song Qiyu's journey to the exam site and reminded him of his teachings. Zhao Mo gave Song Qiyu a piece of the cake to take with him, offering encouragement. That evening, as Wen Yue was closing her umbrella shop, Zhao Buyou arrived with dinner.

Wen Yue suddenly saw the killer hiding on the rooftop. Before Zhao Buyou could fully react, the attacker leaped down and lunged at Wen Yue with a knife. Wen Yue dodged, but the attacker slashed her arm. Seeing patrolling Kaifeng Court officers nearby, Zhao Buyou quickly called for help, causing the assailant to flee. Zhao Buyou bandaged Wen Yue's wound.

Knowing the attacker would likely return and not wanting to endanger Zhao Buyou further, Wen Yue deliberately spoke harshly, calling him useless and annoying, to drive him away. Zhao Buyou, understanding her true intent to protect him, acknowledged her victory in hurting his feelings and left. The next morning, Zhao Buyou returned to the umbrella shop before it opened, quietly leaving a box of food outside the door. He then hid and waited until Wen Yue opened the shop and retrieved the food before silently departing.

Episode 14 Recap

Zhao Buyou, concerned that the killer might target Wen Yue again, went directly to Kaifeng Court to seek help from Gu Zhen. Gu Zhen promised to assign guards to protect Wen Yue. Zhao Buyou expressed regret about his lack of martial skills, feeling helpless watching Wen Yue being harmed. Gu Zhen advised him against such thoughts and took him to see the stone steles dedicated to previous Prefects, citing Bao Zheng as an example.

He explained that Bao Zheng, though a civil official, was still able to govern the nation and bring peace to the world. Zhao Buyou had idolized Bao Zheng since childhood, dreaming of becoming an official like him who could uphold justice for the people. Gu Zhen encouraged Zhao Buyou to be resolute, which filled him with renewed confidence. The imperial exam finally concluded. Zhao Mo'er went to the examination hall to meet Song Qiyu, who emerged appearing dejected and lost.

Zhao Mo'er asked about his well-being, but Song Qiyu claimed to have seen through the darkness of officialdom and felt completely disheartened. He said he didn't want to talk and just wanted to be alone for a while. Zhao Mo'er then sought help from Supervisor Zhang. Supervisor Zhang admired Zhao Mo'er and again urged him to become his disciple, with Zheng Dun also supporting the idea.

Zhao Mo'er quickly changed the subject, stating he only wanted to help Song Qiyu resolve his issues. Later, Song Qiyu arrived to return books to Supervisor Zhang and directly questioned him. He deeply believed in the "Seven Scholars of Dongshui" and had studied diligently day and night, yet the reality of the imperial exam seemed cold and ruthless. Supervisor Zhang rebuked him sternly. Song Qiyu left the books and departed resentfully.

Zhao Mo'er hurried after him, urging him to share his troubles. When Song Qiyu refused, Zhao Mo'er invited him for a drink, hoping wine would solve his worries, as his father often said. Under the influence of alcohol, Song Qiyu poured out his grievances to Zhao Mo'er. He felt that studying was useless and considered himself a failure. Zhao Mo'er, in defiance, declared he wouldn't pursue official titles either.

Song Qiyu then recounted his experience, explaining that he had been coerced into taking the exam as a substitute for someone else. He had great ambitions, but they were written under another person's name. Zhao Mo'er insisted on reporting it to the authorities, but Song Qiyu desperately stopped him, saying he could not become another Sun Bo. He had people he needed to protect and could not risk it.

Unsure how to comfort him, Zhao Mo'er stayed silently by his side. Early the next morning, Wen Yue came looking for Song Qiyu to inquire about what he saw the night she chased the killer to the shop of mules and horses. She had seen him there and wanted to understand the situation. Song Qiyu admitted he saw the killer, who bandaged a wound at the shop.

The killer had a branded mark on his face, clearly a fugitive wanted by the authorities. Wen Yue asked him to share the details with Zhao Buyou. Zhao Buyou reported the fugitive's details to Gu Zhen. Unexpectedly, another body was discovered in the suburbs, killed in the exact same manner as Xiao Yishui, with the face skinned. Zhao Buyou and Gu Zhen went to the morgue. Yao He and Zhao Ban'er examined the body.

They found a mulberry smell on the deceased's hands and a dark purple discoloration on his tongue. They noted that mulberries were unobtainable in East Capital that year. Zhao Buyou recalled hearing that Qingfeng Tower had recently introduced candied mulberries, having bought all the mulberries in the city for their distinguished guests. Gu Zhen dispatched Wan Fu to investigate Qingfeng Tower and obtain a list of their VIP guests.

Zhao Ban'er informed Zhao Mo'er about the faceless body found in the suburbs. Song Qiyu happened to visit Zhao Mo'er at that moment. Song Qiyu suspected the deceased was Kong Er and asked Zhao Mo'er to take him to see the body. As Song Qiyu predicted, the deceased was indeed Kong Er. He had also taken the imperial exam as a substitute and had now been silenced. Song Qiyu feared he would be the next victim.

Zhao Mo'er tried to reassure him and offered to take him to Gu Zhen, but Song Qiyu felt insignificant and only wanted to see one person before he died. Zhao Mo'er agreed to accompany him. Wen Yue learned about the faceless body in the suburbs from a customer and immediately became alert.

She went directly to where Kong Er had resided to investigate, discovering that Kong Er had acquired a considerable sum of money before his death, evidenced by his new clothes made of expensive silk, though his undergarments were old and patched. Gu Zhen, Zhao Buyou, and Wan Fu arrived shortly after. Wen Yue shared her findings. The innkeeper also mentioned that Kong Er had frequently hosted feasts with friends in his room before the exam.

Song Qiyu took Zhao Mo'er to the Taohuadong Brothel to collect the payment for the exam substitution. Upon entering, they saw Zou Yongjin, a newly successful scholar, brutally beating an old man. The old man had apparently come to collect payment for Song Qiyu. Zou Yongjin not only refused to pay but ordered his men to continue beating the old man until he died, then swaggered away with his entourage. Song Qiyu rushed to the deceased, mourning loudly.

Zhao Mo'er, unable to tolerate the injustice, went straight to Kaifeng Court to file a complaint. Wan Fu sent for Zou Yongjin, but Zou Yongjin did not appear, sending only his servants to Kaifeng Court to provide false testimony. They insisted the deceased had attempted to extort money from Zou Yongjin. Zhao Mo'er confronted them, exposing Zou Yongjin's crime of beating the old man to death.

The servants tried to argue their way out and even attempted to bribe Wan Fu. Wan Fu confiscated the money and forcibly removed them from the court. Zhao Mo'er then went to find Song Qiyu to testify at Kaifeng Court, but was horrified to discover that Song Qiyu had been murdered. Zhao Mo'er was terrified and heartbroken.

Gu Zhen and Wan Fu arrived at the scene and found that Song Qiyu had been killed in the same manner as Kong Er and Xiao Yishui, with a deep, narrow wound to the neck. Zhao Buyou arrived afterward and took the devastated Zhao Mo'er home. Upon hearing the news, Wen Yue brought breakfast for Zhao Mo'er the next morning. Zhao Mo'er had stayed up all night grieving. Zhao Buyou shared his own pain after the death of a close friend years ago, encouraging Zhao Mo'er to recover. Zhao Mo'er wept uncontrollably in his grief.

Episode 15 Recap

Children at Taoyuan Welfare Center eagerly awaited Song Qiyu, who had promised to tell them stories. Witnessing their anticipation brought Mo deep sorrow, remembering Song's violent death. Mr. He, who ran the center, quickly distracted the children with sweet candies made by Chef Shen. Mo's sister-in-law, Wen Yue, arrived, having guessed he would be there. Mo expressed his grief, recalling Song's ambition to publish a poem collection to gather like-minded scholars, a dream now tragically unfulfilled.

Wen Yue stayed to offer support, assuring him she wasn't there to discuss the case but simply to be with him. Mo appreciated her presence, stating he knew she and his brother didn't need to worry as he would recover quickly. Meanwhile, Ban and Yao He conducted an autopsy on the body believed to be Song Qiyu.

They found the cause of death was a throat cut, and the face had been peeled off after death, mirroring the condition of the earlier victim, Kong Er. The body's swollen abdomen was due to it being disemboweled and then stuffed with books before being sewn shut. Inside, they found texts including The Book of Songs, The Book of History, and The Book of Rites.

Coupled with a copy of the Tao Te Ching found at the crime scene, Buyou interpreted the act as not just anger but a deliberate insult, perhaps implying the victim was "full of knowledge" but "had no morals" despite appearing learned. Gu Zhen found this conclusion far-fetched, suggesting the gruesome nature pointed to intense anger and possibly multiple perpetrators. Gu suggested Buyou speak to his brother Mo, who was Song's best friend and the first witness.

Buyou demurred, stating his brother was not open with him but might talk to Wen Yue. When Gu asked about Buyou's relationship with Wen Yue, Buyou became evasive, admitting to some tension but denying any possibility of divorce, stating he had his own way of resolving their conflict. Later that night, a heavily intoxicated Buyou went to Wen Yue's umbrella shop.

He lamented his own life, comparing himself to a small groundhog hiding in its hole while calling her a magnificent, dashing horse. He felt he had kept her confined for fifteen years. He implored her to talk to Mo, emphasizing his brother's deep bond with her, treating her as a biological sister, certain she wouldn't abandon him. Buyou then declared he would not give up on their fifteen years together, demanding she not leave him.

Wen Yue urged him to stop shouting his drunken words and made him sit down to rest. Early the next morning, Ban woke up and found Mo sitting in the courtyard, realizing he had been awake all night. Mo confided in her, recalling a moment before Song's death where he seemed emotional and had previously argued with Supervisor Zhang. Mo suspected Song was forced into surrogate testing, initially resisting but eventually agreeing.

Mo felt Song wanted to confront Supervisor Zhang about the integrity of government officials. Mo decided he needed to go to the Academy immediately to speak with Supervisor Zhang about Song's death, despite Ban's concerns. Buyou woke to find Wen Yue awake as well. She looked troubled. She explained that her earlier argument with him was a misguided attempt to distance him from the danger, and she felt terrible about her harsh words.

She revealed her deep-seated fear stemmed from witnessing the brutal murder of her parents and younger brother by bandits twenty years ago; her real name was Su Yue, and her father was an engineer at Taihu Boatyard. Orphaned, she became homeless before eventually joining the water bandits. She stated her tears had long dried, but she worried intensely about the safety of their current family of five. Seeing her concern, Buyou acknowledged they were finally back together.

Gu Zhen reported that he had reviewed files of deadly fugitives and found one man, Shan Shiliu from Qian Prefecture, who fit parts of the description. Shan's parents died when he was young, he was often bullied, and grew up with an eccentric, extreme personality, injuring people multiple times with a thin blade before escaping banishment to Ya Prefecture. Both Gu Zhen and Buyou considered Shan Shiliu a strong suspect for the recent murders.

Suddenly, Wan Fu rushed in with urgent news: Supervisor Zhang had been murdered at the Academy, and Zhao Mo was the sole suspect found at the scene. Buyou and Gu Zhen hurried to the Academy, where they found Mo distraught and covered in blood outside the gate, which was covered in blood writing. As a crowd gathered and speculated, Buyou tried to comfort his brother, who remained silent.

An old man then emerged from the Academy, directly accusing Mo of the murder, claiming he saw Mo posing Supervisor Zhang's body and that the blood on him was from the killing. Gu Zhen ordered Mo taken back to Kaifeng Court. Wen Yue arrived as Mo was being led away. At the Kaifeng Court, Wan Fu interrogated Mo.

Mo explained he had known Song Qiyu was being coerced into being a surrogate test taker and believed this was the motive behind the murders. He went to the Academy to confront Supervisor Zhang, found him dead, and was examining the body to see if the wounds matched Song's when the old man appeared and accused him. Wan Fu demanded to know why Mo hadn't reported the surrogate testing earlier.

Mo retorted that surrogate testing was common every year, and the Court never investigated such matters. He angrily reminded Wan Fu that he had reported the death of the mule man beaten at the Taohuadong Brothel, but Wan Fu had done nothing, suggesting he had taken bribes and ignored evidence of bribed witnesses. Mo accused them of inaction. Buyou stepped forward to defend his brother, promising to find the true killer and clear his name.

Unable to tolerate Wan Fu's accusations any longer, Wen Yue also argued with him before taking Mo away. Wen Yue suggested Mo return home but mentioned that she had seen Song Qiyu in the back alley of the Great Shop of Mules and Horses while she and Buyou were pursuing a suspect. Mo decided he needed to investigate there immediately. Wen Yue agreed to follow him at a distance to ensure his safety.

At the shop, Mo asked about Song Qiyu, but locals were hesitant to speak, especially an old man, Chen, who was burning paper money and praying to be protected from the "Ghost Examiner." Chen became agitated and tried to make Mo leave. Wen Yue intervened, identifying herself as being connected to the Kaifeng Court through her husband and promising protection if he shared what he knew.

Chen then revealed that Song Qiyu, whom he called "Young Master Song," frequently visited Ding, an old man who worked at the yard. Ding was an honest but unlucky man who injured his leg. Song would visit Ding regularly, often at night, giving him money, and it was clear they had a close relationship, like father and son.

Chen mentioned that Ding was rumored to be an old servant of Song's family who had been dismissed for a transgression and kept his connection with Song a secret. Chen also noted that Ding died on the same day as Song, possibly after going to the Taohuadong Brothel. Unable to sleep, Mo continued to process the events. He recalled Supervisor Zhang writing the character "宋" (Song) on the ground before he died.

This made Mo doubt that Song Qiyu was the murderer, and he erased the character. Ban found him still awake early in the morning. Mo explained to Ban that given the nature of Supervisor Zhang's throat wound and estimated time of death, the blood writing on the gate could not have been done by the victim himself.

Ban then gently suggested that Mo contact Song Qiyu's family so they could arrange for his body to be returned home for a proper burial. At Kaifeng Court, Buyou reviewed lists of test takers obtained from the Ministry of Rites, comparing them with Gu Zhen's list of missing students from the past decade. They found a perfect overlap: every person on Gu Zhen's missing list was also absent from the examination roster.

They strongly suspected these individuals were surrogate test takers who had been murdered to keep them silent. Reviewing the list of successful candidates, they noted a consistent pattern: the powerful Zou family always had two or three members pass each examination cycle, including Zou Yeqing and Zou Yongjin this year. Then, Zhuang Qiang, a guard from the Zou family, arrived to report that Zou Yongjin was missing despite passing the exam, a fact that puzzled Gu Zhen.

Interwoven with the investigation, a conversation between two men revealed that the early discovery of Kong Er's body had alerted someone, allowing them to discover inconsistencies. They discussed a strategy of "Fake it and escape" to deal with those who had become aware. One of the men was instructed to "handle all the rats who manage to escape this year" to prove himself worthy of meeting their master in the south.

Meanwhile, Ban and Yao He conducted a more thorough re-examination of the body found at Song Qiyu's home. Yao He detected an unusual, strong acidic smell, indicating the person was a heavy chronic drinker, which contradicted what they knew about Song Qiyu. Ban also noticed the skin was delicate and lacked calluses, suggesting the person had led a life of luxury, not hard labor or writing.

When they learned from the Zou family guard, Zhuang Qiang, that Zou Yongjin was a heavy drinker and had broken ribs from a childhood fall from a horse, Ban used a xyster and found a fine crack consistent with an old injury on the body's ribs.

Based on the evidence of chronic alcoholism, a luxurious lifestyle, and the specific rib injury matching Zou Yongjin's history, Ban definitively concluded that the body was not Song Qiyu's but that of the missing Zou Yongjin. She immediately reported this crucial finding to Buyou and Gu Zhen, confirming that Song Qiyu was still alive. The new question arose: who had killed Zou Yongjin?

Episode 16 Recap

The body previously found and identified was confirmed through further examination by Zhao Ban'er and Yao He to be Zou Yongjin. This meant that Song Qiyu was still alive. The discovery led to suspicions falling on Song Qiyu, particularly among Zhao Buyou and Gu Zhen. They considered the motive could be retaliation, as Zou Yongjin had allegedly hired Song Qiyu for a proxy exam, then withheld payment, had Ding Dalang beaten to death, and subjected Song Qiyu to significant humiliation.

Meanwhile, Zhao Mo sought out Wang Qin, a fellow scholar from Jinzhou, hoping to send a family letter to Song Qiyu’s parents. Wang Qin was uncooperative, stating he hadn't seen Song Qiyu in ages and that the Song family line was extinct. To persuade him, Zhao Mo offered to pay a debt Wang Qin owed a shopkeeper.

Upon receiving the money and letter, Wang Qin grew hostile, calling Song Qiyu a scoundrel and an orphaned bastard who deserved to die young. Zhao Mo defended Song Qiyu, leading to a physical altercation. Wang Qin detailed Song Qiyu’s alleged cruelties in Jinzhou, claiming Song Qiyu inherited his family estate at sixteen and became known for dominating the area.

Wang Qin insisted he personally witnessed Song Qiyu beating and scolding his servants, including a mule driver named Ding Dalang and Ding Dalang's son, who was Song Qiyu's pageboy, treating them like dogs. He dared Zhao Mo to verify his claims, swearing he spoke the truth. Later, Zhao Buyou informed Wen Yue that Song Qiyu was indeed alive. Wen Yue revealed she had already suspected this based on Zhao Mo's reactions.

Both worried about Zhao Mo's close friendship with Song Qiyu and the legal implications of harboring a fugitive, which was a serious crime. While logically they wished Zhao Mo would distance himself and reveal what he knew, they understood the emotional difficulty given his friendship with Song Qiyu. Zhao Buyou suggested persuading Song Qiyu to turn himself in, offering to serve as his defense counsel and submit a petition to the court, hoping to save his life.

They felt that Song Qiyu's usual demeanor didn't fit that of a vicious person and believed there was more to the situation. They reflected on the plight of individuals like Song Qiyu and Sun Bo, questioning if justice existed for the poor and whether they were justified in fighting back when oppressed. Gu Zhen, Wan Fu, and Zhao Buyou located Jian Zhuang, the supposed leader of the Seven Scholars of Dongshui, at his ancestral home.

Jian Zhuang was waiting for them and had sent his family away. He surrendered, offering the money he had accumulated from arranging proxy exams over the years, saying it had brought him only anxiety. He confessed to arranging proxy exams with Zhang Mei for the promise of official positions, being too old to wait. Zhao Buyou criticized him for corrupting the imperial examination system, which was the only path for poor scholars to change their fate.

Jian Zhuang denied any involvement in the murders, stating he and Zhang Mei only handled the proxy arrangements and that Zheng Dun should be questioned about the deaths. Gu Zhen confirmed Jian Zhuang's account of the illicit gains and assured him his family was safe as they were not involved, though he hinted that others might face consequences. Wan Fu expressed his disdain before Jian Zhuang was taken away.

Chen Baoshan rushed to Zhao Buyou, visibly shaken, believing he had seen a ghost. It was the seventh day after Ding Dalang's death, and Chen Baoshan was burning paper money when Song Qiyu appeared. Song Qiyu asked Chen Baoshan if a scholar had visited Ding Dalang before the exams. Chen Baoshan confirmed that a short, chubby, smiling scholar often visited Ding Dalang and they seemed to get along well.

Zhao Mo, arriving later, realized this visitor was Zheng Dun, deducing that Zheng Dun had likely learned Song Qiyu's true identity from Ding Dalang and then blackmailed him into participating in the proxy exam scheme. Wen Yue comforted Chen Baoshan, assuring him that Song Qiyu was alive and not a ghost, as the authorities had confirmed. After Chen Baoshan departed, Wen Yue noticed Zhao Mo was gone and became deeply concerned.

Anticipating Song Qiyu would seek out Zheng Dun, Zhao Mo went to Zheng Dun's residence to wait for him. Ding Dan arrived in the pouring rain. Zhao Mo confronted him, revealing he knew Ding Dalang was his father and that "Song Qiyu" was not his real name. Ding Dan confessed his true name was Ding Dan. He revealed his mother was of low status and his father was the Song family's mule driver, making him an inferior in the household.

He served as Song Qiyu's pageboy and was subjected to constant abuse by the cruel and foolish Song Qiyu. He admitted he killed the real Song Qiyu while defending himself. His father, Ding Dalang, fearing for Ding Dan's life and future, told him to flee Jinzhou and go to Tokyo to take the imperial exam disguised as Song Qiyu, as Ding Dan was ineligible due to his status. Ding Dan felt he had been a fraud ever since.

Zhao Mo told him his identity didn't matter, only that he was alive. Ding Dan argued it did matter, as his father had made immense sacrifices for him. He revealed that Zheng Dun discovered his secret and blackmailed him into taking proxy exams for others. Grieving his father, whose death he believed was connected to the scheme, Ding Dan vowed revenge against Zheng Dun and the others involved, wanting them to join his father in death.

Zhao Mo urged him to let the law handle them, but Ding Dan questioned the effectiveness of the law for people like them, who were manipulated and persecuted. He declared that if they were treated as disposable pawns, he would turn on the players themselves. Zhao Mo informed him that the body was Zou Yongjin and that the Zou family members responsible would be punished. He desperately urged Ding Dan not to confront Zheng Dun, warning he would not survive.

Ding Dan stated he could not turn back now. Zhao Mo expressed his profound care for Ding Dan, gave him all his money, and pleaded with him to leave Tokyo immediately, find a place where no one knew him, and start a new life, comparing him to a bridge that could still be repaired if the main structure remained sound. Just then, a drunken Zheng Dun returned. Seeing Zheng Dun, Ding Dan immediately attacked him.

Gu Zhen, Wan Fu, Wen Yue, and Zhao Buyou arrived shortly after. Zheng Dun struggled and cried for help. Zhao Mo, unable to bear witnessing Ding Dan captured, told him to hold him hostage. Wen Yue and Zhao Buyou attempted to reason with Ding Dan, highlighting his close friendship with Zhao Mo and assuring him they cared for him like a younger brother, regretting they weren't there during his suffering.

Accepting that there was no escape, Ding Dan pushed Zhao Mo away. He declared that attacking Zheng Dun was solely his act and that Zhao Mo was entirely innocent. He then committed suicide, asking for forgiveness for his past actions and stating his name was Ding Dan. Zhao Mo held the dying Ding Dan. With his last breath, Ding Dan apologized and returned the wooden lock Zhao Mo had crafted for him before passing away. Zhao Mo was heartbroken.

He buried Ding Dan and attempted to carve a tombstone, finding it difficult and unsatisfactory. Zhao Buyou offered comfort, sharing his own similar experience of losing a close friend unexpectedly and the feeling of powerlessness. Zhao Mo felt he had failed Ding Dan but found solace in the collection of poems he had compiled for him.

Zhao Buyou reflected that although life might resemble a game of chess, people are not merely pieces; they have the capacity for choice and agency. He expressed respect for Ding Dan's struggle to change his destiny, even if his methods were misguided. They resolved to toast Ding Dan once the tombstone was finished. Zhao Mo voiced his hope that if he ever became an official, he would be one who ensured ordinary people were cared for.

Inside the wooden lock Ding Dan had returned, Zhao Mo discovered a hidden note. It stated that the person who had revealed his true identity was still alive and among the Seven Scholars and suggested confirming this with Chen Baoshan at the Great Shop of Mules and Horses.

Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue realized this meant the true instigator was not Shan Shiliu, who was merely a killer acting for the Zou family, but someone who had manipulated Ding Dan using this information. Gu Zhen informed Zhao Buyou that Shan Shiliu had been seen at an abandoned house in the southwest burial ground, but his superior had instructed him not to pursue it, asking Zhao Buyou to investigate instead.

Gu Zhen also mentioned that Jian Zhuang's confiscated wealth had been donated entirely to the families of martyrs. Discussing how to apprehend the instigator, they speculated that Shan Shiliu might believe his task was complete now that "Song Qiyu" was dead. They decided to keep Song Qiyu's death a secret and instead issue a public wanted poster for Song Qiyu to lure Shan Shiliu out, planning a trap in the foggy woods near the burial ground.

Zhao Mo insisted on acting as bait by impersonating Song Qiyu. Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue objected strongly due to the danger, but Gu Zhen eventually agreed to let Zhao Mo participate, stressing the need for extreme caution. Wanted posters for Song Qiyu were displayed across the city. Zhao Mo, disguised as Song Qiyu, walked as the decoy while Gu Zhen, Wan Fu, Zhao Buyou, and Wen Yue waited in ambush.

Shan Shiliu appeared and pursued Zhao Mo, but realizing it was a disguise, he attempted to flee. Gu Zhen and the others emerged and captured him. Gu Zhen identified Shan Shiliu as a killer working for the Zou family and killed him on the spot.

Episode 17 Recap

Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue traveled to a deserted house in the suburbs. Though dilapidated, it showed clear signs of recent habitation. Inside a cabinet, they discovered a collection of tokens from the people killed by Shan Shiliu, including personal items that Wen Yue immediately recognized as belonging to Xiao Yishui.

To Zhao Buyou's shock, he also found a waist token belonging to Dong Qian, a Senior Judge of the Office of Justice, realizing that Dong Qian too was a victim of Shan Shiliu. Zhao Buyou reflected on the past. Seventeen years prior, he had just joined the Office of Justice, full of youthful ambition to crack a major case. By chance, he learned of a meeting point for a Liao spy.

He went to the designated spot and spoke the agreed-upon code phrase, but was immediately recognized as an imposter. The spy threatened him with a knife, terrifying Zhao Buyou. Just then, Dong Qian arrived, saving him by blocking the knife with his hand and subduing the spy. Dong Qian revealed he had been tracking the spy for over two weeks and Zhao Buyou's impulsive action had ruined his plan to capture an entire group.

Despite his injury and annoyance, Dong Qian did not go to the clinic but took Zhao Buyou to a nearby Nameless Restaurant, famous for its grilled pork ribs. It was there, over food and drinks, that their deep friendship began. Dong Qian was a peculiar man. He insisted Zhao Buyou keep the rescue a secret and pretended not to know him at the Office of Justice. However, after work, he would secretly take Zhao Buyou to investigate cases.

After each investigation, they would go back to the Nameless Restaurant for grilled pork ribs and drinks. When drunk, Dong Qian would often speak of his relentless pursuit of criminals as a way to repay a debt and expressed that he felt unworthy of being included in the "Chongning Case Precedents," a collection of legal rulings. Now that Shan Shiliu had been executed, Zhao Buyou felt that Dong Qian's death had finally been avenged, remarking on it as fate.

Meanwhile, Zhao Mo'er went to the Imperial Academy to register, aiming to earn a scholarly title and fulfill the last wish of Ding Dan. He and Zhao Ban'er visited the Welfare Center to donate books to the children. They witnessed some children bullying a girl named Su and calling her a "stray kid." Zhao Ban'er intervened, stopping the bullying. Su's mother, Ci, and older sister, Song Yingying, who were embroiderers teaching at the Welfare Center, arrived and thanked Zhao Ban'er.

The scene reminded both Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er of their own childhoods when they were also called "stray kids." At the Imperial Academy, the official handling Zhao Mo'er's registration checked his household record. He informed Zhao Mo'er that his family was indeed a branch of the royal lineage, just as their father often boasted. However, he pointed out that the family genealogy only listed Zhao Mo'er's father and elder brother, Zhao Buyou, but not Zhao Mo'er or Zhao Ban'er.

The official stated this was verified by the Imperial Clan Court and urged Zhao Mo'er to confirm his household registration, warning that unclear background could prevent him from entering the Academy. Disturbed by this, Zhao Mo'er rushed home to seek an explanation from Zhao Li and Zhao Buyou, but neither was there. Zhao Ban'er tried to comfort him, suggesting that being a branch of the royal lineage shouldn't matter and urging him not to dwell on it.

However, Zhao Mo'er felt he couldn't live ignorantly, wanting to understand his identity. Zhao Ban'er, conversely, believed the most important thing was for their family to be happy together. Later that night, Zhao Buyou returned home late and sat in the courtyard, lost in thought, recalling the events of seventeen years ago. He recounted that after Dong Qian's death, he took in Dong Qian's two children.

Zhao Ban'er joined him and expressed her suspicion that she and Zhao Mo'er were not biological members of the Zhao family. Zhao Buyou denied it, but Zhao Ban'er described a persistent memory, possibly a dream, of him holding her and Zhao Mo'er in a place filled with smoke, where he cried because of the smoke.

Zhao Buyou dismissed it, claiming he was just cooking for them when they were young and the damp firewood produced smoke that made his eyes water. However, from his words, Zhao Ban'er inferred their true parentage and tearfully thanked Zhao Buyou for taking care of them all these years. The next morning, Zhao Mo'er went to check the recruitment list at the Office of Justice, having applied for a scribe assistant position a few days prior.

Meanwhile, Zhao Li, dressed in a new outfit, insisted the whole family go to the annual spring banquet at the Fan Building. Both Zhao Buyou and Zhao Ban'er were reluctant, citing the high cost, but Zhao Li was determined. Zhao Mo'er returned home having successfully secured the scribe assistant position. Immediately, he pressed Zhao Li and Zhao Buyou about his and Zhao Ban'er's lineage and why they weren't in the genealogy.

Zhao Li feigned illness, and Zhao Buyou quickly helped him inside. Undeterred, Zhao Mo'er questioned Zhao Buyou again. Zhao Buyou repeatedly asserted that he and Zhao Ban'er were Zhao Li's biological children. Zhao Mo'er, unconvinced, angrily declared he would move to the Office of Justice's quarters. Zhao Buyou sternly warned him not to go, threatening to disown him as a brother. Despite Zhao Ban'er's pleas, Zhao Mo'er left for the Office of Justice without looking back.

Zhao Buyou then confided in Wen Yue, revealing the truth about Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er. They were Dong Qian's children. Sixteen years ago, Dong Qian had entrusted his two children to Zhao Buyou just days before he was killed.

After Dong Qian's death, Zhao Buyou brought the children home and begged Zhao Li to take them in, changing their names from Dong Mo and Dong Ban to Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er to conceal their identities and protect them from harm. Zhao Li arrived at the Fan Building for the banquet, and Zhao Ban'er followed, trying to persuade him to leave. The courtesan Chi Liaoliao began her performance. Interested, Zhao Ban'er decided to stay and join Zhao Li.

As Chi Liaoliao performed, several red satin cloths with names written on them fell from above, followed by several bodies rolling onto the stage. Chaos erupted. Zhao Li fled in panic, while Zhao Ban'er stepped forward to examine the bodies carefully. Chi Liaoliao sustained a minor injury, and Zhao Ban'er helped bandage her. She noticed Chi Liaoliao's unique hair ribbon.

Chi Liaoliao explained her younger brother made it for her, a detail that struck Zhao Ban'er as similar to a specific knotting style her sister-in-law Wen Yue also used. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu arrived with officers from Kaifeng Court. Zhao Ban'er volunteered to assist with the post-mortem examination and proceeded to examine the bodies with Yao He. Gu Zhen, needing to focus on the Feng Sai case, instructed Wan Fu to take charge at the Fan Building.

Wan Fu ordered the names written on the red cloths to be transcribed. Zhao Ban'er and Yao He discovered tokens from the Yayuan Mansion on the bodies. They also noted skin discoloration, signs of abuse, estimated time of death around three days prior based on rigor mortis, ink in the hair, mouth, and nose suggesting submersion, and minor bruises behind the ears indicative of being hung upside down.

Episode 18 Recap

At the annual spring banquet in the Fan Building, the famous courtesan Chi Liaoliao was set to perform. High-ranking officials and wealthy individuals from the East Capital flocked to the event, vying for a chance to attend. Zhao Li purchased tickets and brought Zhao Ban'er to experience the spectacle. After Chi Liaoliao's performance concluded, several red silk banners inscribed with women's names, along with three male bodies, plummeted from the stage ceiling.

Each of the deceased had a fish charm lodged in their throat. The investigation quickly pointed to the Yayuan Mansion, the private residence of Zou Mian's daughter, whose son-in-law was Luan Hui. Inspector Gu Zhen and Wan Fu led a team to the mansion to search, but were initially blocked by disrespectful gatekeepers, prompting Wan Fu to draw his sword in anger. The steward arrived and invited Gu Zhen and Wan Fu inside.

To their surprise, the Governor of Kaifeng Court was already there, enjoying drinks, music, and even presenting Luan Hui with a spontaneously written piece of calligraphy. When Gu Zhen explained the purpose of their visit and requested permission to search the mansion, citing the fish charms found on the bodies, Luan Hui claimed it was a clear case of malicious framing.

He initially offered to allow a search to prove his innocence, but the Governor intervened, deeming it too hasty to link the crime directly to Yayuan Mansion based solely on the fish charms, especially since the exact number found hadn't been definitively confirmed yet. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu were forced to leave without conducting a proper search. Just as they were departing, Lady Wang Yunshang rushed to the gate looking for her father, the Governor.

The steward falsely claimed the Governor was not present, but Wan Fu immediately exposed the lie, and Gu Zhen corroborated his statement. Without hesitation, Wang Yunshang rode her horse directly into the mansion. Gu Zhen later entrusted the investigation of the Fan Building case to Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue. Immediately after the incident, Zhao Ban'er and Yao He performed the initial examination of the three bodies.

Zhao Li, having drunk heavily, was somewhat inebriated but still sharp enough to connect the recent string of cases, including the current one, to the Zou family. Zhao Buyou, not wanting Zhao Ban'er involved in the dangerous investigation, instructed her to take their father home, though Zhao Li was reluctant to leave. Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue began a detailed search of the Fan Building.

They discovered a sewage outlet at the back of the kitchen that connected directly to the Underground Culvert, and noted that the manhole cover showed signs of recent disturbance. Zhao Buyou became suspicious of a new handyman working there. When questioned, the handyman answered smoothly, but Zhao Buyou promised they would uncover the truth by the end of the night.

Hoping to mend the rift between Zhao Li and Zhao Mo, Zhao Ban'er took their father to wait outside the Office of Justice for Zhao Mo. Zhao Li, however, was still upset and refused to approach Zhao Mo, eating nearby before heading home by himself. When Zhao Mo finished his duties and left the Office of Justice, he encountered Zhao Ban'er. She expressed her frustration with him.

Zhao Mo acknowledged that his father and Zhao Buyou considered him family, but explained his overwhelming need to discover his true identity, which he felt was essential to his existence. Unable to persuade him otherwise, Zhao Ban'er accepted his decision. As Zhao Ban'er prepared to leave, she saw Mr. He from the Welfare Center chasing a young girl named Su.

She intervened and learned that Su's mother, Ci, had gone to Xiangfu for goods five days ago and had not returned. Su was distraught, fearing her mother had abandoned her. Zhao Ban'er comforted Su, sharing a story about her own father getting lost and eventually returning, and walked her home to the Jinxiu Embroidery workshop where Su and Ci lived with three other embroiderers. The other embroiderers had stopped working due to Ci's absence.

While there, Zhao Ban'er noticed a particular embroidery item that seemed different from the others, inscribed with the name "Ci Rou." Su explained her mother had found it. Shortly after, Lu Sanzhen, one of the embroiderers, returned with a real estate agent. Without listening to explanations, she sternly scolded Su for bringing a stranger home and instructed the agent to inspect the backyard, indicating her intention to sell the property. Su apologetically saw Zhao Ban'er out.

As Zhao Ban'er left, she overheard Lu Sanzhen discussing the sale of the workshop and the backyard together, which she found confusing. Zhao Ban'er promised Su she would ask a friend to look for her mother in Xiangfu and find out what happened. Later that night, the suspicious new handyman from the Fan Building attempted to flee but was apprehended by Wan Fu. Suspecting the handyman used the Underground Culvert to transport the bodies, Wan Fu interrogated him.

After initial denials, Wan Fu threatened him, and the handyman confessed. He admitted to having a large gambling debt that led to his injury. One day in the Underground Culvert, he met a woman who gave him medicine and money and hired him as an insider at the Fan Building to help transport "contraband" before the spring banquet, in exchange for clearing his debt. He claimed he did not know the items were bodies until much later.

He described his employer as a woman dressed in black, with a covered face and a deliberately low voice, who was surprisingly strong, able to kick him down easily when he tried to follow her, and threatened him with death if he revealed anything. Gu Zhen and Zhao Buyou observed Wan Fu's successful interrogation and praised his skills.

Wan Fu confirmed the identities of the three victims found on the stage: Zhao Muyan, the Transportation Inspector of Kaifeng Court; Yue Qide, the Deputy Commissioner of Salt and Iron; and Zhang Qi from the Left Section of the Ministry of Revenue, all fifth-rank officials. The names of the women on the red silk were from reported missing persons, among others still being investigated.

Discussing the next steps, Gu Zhen and Zhao Buyou agreed that directly investigating the Yayuan Mansion was impossible due to Zou Mian's extensive influence, which included many high-ranking officials as guests. Their strategy would be to start by investigating the three deceased officials and mapping out the route taken through the Underground Culvert.

Wen Yue volunteered to investigate the Underground Culvert, but Zhao Buyou vehemently objected, citing the extreme danger posed by the outlaws who resided there, known as the "Trouble-Free Hole" inhabitants, who were known to kill officials on sight. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu, however, argued that precisely because officials could not enter safely, Wen Yue, not being an official, was the most suitable person for the task and offered her a sum of money for the job.

Wen Yue happily accepted the money, seeing it as a step closer to her goal of buying a large house. Zhao Buyou felt a sense of shame at this. He later handcrafted a small orange lantern for Wen Yue, which she adored, and gently urged her to move back home since Shan Shiliu, the "orderer" they were investigating previously, was dead. However, Wen Yue still felt uneasy and wanted to see the Fan Building case resolved before returning home.

That night, Zhao Buyou stayed up late writing down "Tips for Surviving the Office of Justice" for Zhao Mo, asking Zhao Ban'er to deliver them. The following morning, Su came to visit Zhao Ban'er early, hoping to have breakfast with her and offering her small collection of savings to pay for the meal.

Meanwhile, Wang Yunshang sought out Gu Zhen, imploring him to investigate Luan Hui, whom she considered a bad influence on her father, and to help expose him to keep her father away. Gu Zhen, bound by official procedure, refused to become personally involved in her family matters or investigate outside the case. Wang Yunshang became frustrated, and their argument escalated into a physical tussle during which Gu Zhen accidentally touched her chest. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Yunshang threatened to tell her father that Gu Zhen had assaulted her if he didn't help.

Episode 19 Recap

Wen Yue discovered that the three fifth-rank officials who died in the Fan Building case were the same three judges who presided over the Dong family's massacre case years ago. Realizing the significance of this, she felt it was time to reveal the true origins of Mo and Ban to them.

She asked Zhao Buyou to go to the Office of Justice, summon Mo home for a family reunion dinner that evening, and while there, to verify if the Fan Building victims were indeed the judges from the Dong Qian case. Zhao Buyou went to the Office of Justice.

He confirmed that the deceased from the Fan Building case – Zhao Muyan, Yue Qide, and Zhang Qi – were the same three officials who had served as judges in the Dong family's massacre case. Meanwhile, Wen Yue prepared to go to Wuyou Cave and had Zhao Buyou get firecrackers for her.

She explained to Zhao Buyou that entering the cave required following a specific rule: a disciple of the Water Dagger Sect would light one firecracker upon entering to greet General Wuyou. Arriving at the cave entrance, Wen Yue lit the first firecracker, but it failed to ignite. She had to light a second one, which did explode. This unexpected action was interpreted by the cave dwellers as a provocation, as "One firecracker is a greeting, two is a provocation."

Unaware of this, Wen Yue inwardly cursed Zhao Buyou for his mistake as she was immediately surrounded by the cave's residents. She defended herself, quickly overpowering her attackers before being blindfolded and led inside to meet General Wuyou. After finishing his duty at the Office of Justice, Mo met Zhao Buyou. Zhao Buyou invited him home for the family reunion dinner, mentioning they had something important to discuss later that evening.

He also gave Mo a compiled guide he had written, filled with lessons learned from his own failures and experiences over his many years at the Office of Justice, hoping it would help Mo. Mo revealed that he had recently been reviewing cases handled by Senior Judge Dong Qian and had discovered the three Fan Building victims were indeed the judges from the Dong family's massacre case, wondering if the two cases were connected.

Zhao Buyou told him they would discuss it further that night at home. Wen Yue met General Wuyou, who expressed pleasure at seeing her after fifteen years. Wen Yue explained she needed the transport route map used for moving bodies, which was vital to the Wuyou Cave's operations and a secret General Wuyou was unwilling to share with outsiders. Wen Yue insisted she needed the map to save someone.

General Wuyou challenged her to a game of chance, saying she would have to follow his rules in his territory. He presented a spinning wheel with "Life" and "Death" options. Wen Yue agreed and spun the wheel, which landed on "Death." General Wuyou gave her a pill, warning her it would take her to the most feared corner of her heart to confront the person she most dreaded facing.

He said she would overcome it if she could walk through the experience, but if she failed, her soul would remain in darkness forever. Swallowing the pill, Wen Yue found herself facing her past self, Su Yue, from fifteen years ago when she was a water bandit. Su Yue accused Wen Yue of being selfish for abandoning her.

Wen Yue tried to persuade her to turn from that life and offered to take her to a bright new future, briefly describing her happy life with Zhao Buyou. Su Yue, burdened by regret and pain, spoke of feeling abandoned and trying to forget her past. Wen Yue confessed she had never forgotten Su Yue and the happier she became, the more her unease grew because of her past self.

Su Yue felt disgusted with herself and believed her existence was meaningless, wanting to end her life to atone for her sins. Wen Yue desperately tried to stop her, assuring her she was not a burden and that Wen Yue was alive because of her. She explained that one must accept oneself to find their place in the world. Su Yue, longing to see Wen Yue's bright world, asked if she could have her own place in the world too.

Wen Yue shared a piece of bread with Su Yue, symbolizing their reconciliation and acceptance of the past, suggesting Su Yue's own world could begin when she met a kind man like the "fool who buys you a white horse."

Witnessing Wen Yue overcome her internal struggle, General Wuyou applauded her and, saying he had fulfilled his duty to her former master (Shui Bizi), gave her the transport route map, cautioning her not to let it fall into the hands of the authorities. The Kaifeng Court posted the list of missing women from the Fan Building case publicly, but few families came forward to report. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu were frustrated by the lack of leads.

Wang Yunshang suggested offering a monetary reward for information and offered to pay it from her father's salary, showing her growing interest in Gu Zhen. Wan Fu discovered that before their deaths, the three officials from the Red Silk Case had met with a mysterious woman in black whose face was covered. The black-clad woman had hired a carriage that was traced to Ban Alley in Quyuan Street, but the trail went cold there.

Zhao Buyou met Wan Fu for dumplings and learned this information, recalling that Senior Judge Dong used to take him to a small nameless restaurant in Ban Alley for grilled pork ribs. Ban, suspecting Lu Sanzhen, secretly followed her and saw her visiting a newly made, unmarked grave and weeping. Ban asked Yao He to search for Ci in Xiangfu, but he found no trace of her. Yao He met Ban at the unmarked grave.

Ban suspected it might be Ci's grave and wanted to exhume the body immediately. Yao He cautioned her about the severe penalties for illegally digging up a grave according to "The Song Penal Code," which included exile or even hanging for opening the coffin without authorization. They decided to report it to the Kaifeng Court and seek permission from Wan Fu.

Ban passionately argued her suspicion to Wan Fu, who was hesitant to authorize an exhumation without clearer evidence due to the legal risks. However, seeing Ban's determination and trusting her judgment, Wan Fu agreed to oversee the exhumation, taking responsibility if it wasn't a murder case. When they dug up the grave and opened the coffin, they discovered it was not Ci but Song Yingying, an embroiderer who had lived with Ci at Jinxiu Embroidery.

Song Yingying was on the Kaifeng Court's list of missing women. They proceeded to Jinxiu Embroidery for further investigation. Following the transport route map given by General Wuyou, Wen Yue emerged from a well at Jinxiu Embroidery just as Ban, Wan Fu, and their group arrived. Wen Yue quickly concealed herself. Wan Fu ordered a search of the embroidery workshop.

Zhao Buyou went to the nameless restaurant in Ban Alley, remembering fondly the times Senior Judge Dong had brought him there years ago, enjoying grilled pork ribs and wine and receiving complimentary private brew as a regular. Gu Zhen and Wang Yunshang arrived at Jinxiu Embroidery. Wang Yunshang accompanied Wen Yue to investigate the well and underground routes. Ban wanted to join them, but Wan Fu prevented her, explaining that traversing the routes required special skills which Wen Yue possessed.

While searching Song Yingying's room, Ban found a handkerchief embroidered with the characters "Ci Rou." She remembered that Ci had an identical handkerchief, suggesting a close relationship between the two women. Wan Fu, however, dismissed it as a mere surface clue. After completing their investigation in the well, Wen Yue was eager to get home for the family reunion dinner and left Jinxiu Embroidery with Ban. Wang Yunshang remained with Gu Zhen.

Episode 20 Recap

Officials reviewed the case findings, including a missing person notice for Song Yingying found in Lu Sanzhen's room. It was noted that Song Yingying had died terribly, with multiple fractures and ink stains in her mouth and nose, suggesting brutal torture and beating before death. They discussed the similarity in death to the men found at the Fan Tower, believing their deaths were an act of revenge, an eye for an eye.

The officials confirmed that more than half the names on a list they were investigating were of women who were alone and missing. Further investigation revealed that the embroidery on the red silk found at the Fan Tower matched embroidery found at an embroidery workshop. This led to speculation that the missing women might have suffered the same fate as Song Yingying, although only Song Yingying's death shortly after her disappearance was confirmed.

Lu Sanzhen had buried Song Yingying, and then, possibly as part of the revenge, committed the Fan Tower murders where the victims were tortured and suffocated in ink. It was suggested that Lu Sanzhen pawned his property afterward, intending to escape. The conversation turned to the whereabouts of Ci and the mysterious woman in black, questioning if they were the same person. An official noted that the embroidery workshop was certainly involved and the autopsy findings supported their conclusions.

One of the officials was instructed to relay their findings to Wen Yue. Wan Fu was asked to escort someone home. Zhao Buyou visited a small restaurant. He inquired if a woman in black had been there recently. The owner confirmed she had, stating that the woman had left a package with instructions to give it to anyone who came asking for her. Zhao Buyou took the package, which contained a letter from Dong Qian and a booklet.

In the letter, Dong Qian confessed his crimes, explaining that twenty years prior, the Zou family had blackmailed him using his aged mother, forcing him to become an assassin to eliminate rivals and witnesses. He admitted to harming innocent people under duress, an act that brought him constant shame. Dong Qian stated he was now going to assassinate Zou Mian to rid the people of a tyrant and clear his own name, knowing he would not return.

He recorded the details of each case and attached Zou Mian's secret orders as a form of repentance and to reveal the truth. One entry detailed a secret order received from Zou Mian's servant, Li Ding, to execute the family of master craftsman Su Zhi from the Taihu Shipyard within five days. Dong Qian noted the methodical planning involved before he carried out the murder near midnight.

A flashback depicted a woman urging a man and child to run, a child crying out for his mother and brother before being told to run and not look back. Zhao Buyou was deeply affected by the confession, realizing Dong Qian, whom he respected, was a pawn of Zou Mian, and that the man who killed Wen Yue's family was the true father of Mo and Ban.

Zhao Buyou returned home dejected, remembering it was the night for their family reunion dinner. He forced a smile as he entered. Wen Yue had prepared a large feast. The family gathered, waiting for him. Zhao Li and Su were having fun setting off fireworks outside. During the dinner, Zhao Buyou struggled with the truth about Mo and Ban's parentage, fearing it would cause animosity between Wen Yue and the siblings.

Instead of revealing what he learned from Dong Qian's booklet, he chose to conceal it for now. He had invited their old neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Chen, to help him tell a fabricated story. Mr. and Mrs. Chen explained that over ten years ago, two elegantly dressed women, each with a small child, suddenly appeared at their home looking for Zhao Li.

One woman confronted Zhao Li, reminding him of his promise to marry her if she had a son and demanding he acknowledge the child. Mr. and Mrs. Chen stated that Zhao Li had a reputation for frequenting brothels, implying that the women were from there and the children were his illegitimate offspring. They concluded the story by stating that Mo and Ban were those two children, with different mothers but the same father, making them family.

Wen Yue seemed puzzled by the elaborate story and asked Zhao Buyou why he chose to tell them this version of events. Zhao Buyou gave vague excuses, saying he would explain everything later, after things settled down. Later, Mo and Ban discussed the story they were told. They didn't fully believe it but felt sorry for Zhao Buyou, seeing how much effort he put into creating the lie.

They decided not to investigate their origins for now, as probing deeper seemed to cause him distress. Ban suggested Mo move back home, assuring him that Zhao Buyou would be happy. Mo agreed to return that night. Alone, Zhao Buyou reread Dong Qian's confession, weighing his love for Wen Yue against the safety of Mo and Ban. After contemplation, he burned the booklet, burying the secret of Dong Qian's involvement in killing Wen Yue's family.

Su was distraught after dreaming about her mother and cried. Ban comforted her, promising to find information about Ci the next day. Early the next morning, Ban prepared to leave to search for Ci's whereabouts. She encountered Yao He, who was just finishing up at the court, claiming he had been copying autopsy records all night and was exhausted. He offered to accompany her, but Ban urged him to go home and rest, promising she would be careful.

Yao He agreed, offering to cook something delicious for her when she returned. Ban arrived at Wuxue Alley and found the Ci Rou Mutual Aid Society, recognizable from the handkerchief. She showed a seamstress a handkerchief embroidered with "Ci Rou" and asked about its origin. The seamstress confirmed it was made by a member and asked how she obtained it. Ban explained it belonged to Ci and Song Yingying and she was looking for information about them.

The seamstress invited Ban to the back hall for tea, saying that Ci and Song Yingying had visited three days prior. Despite Ban's questions about their visit, the seamstress repeatedly urged her to drink the tea. Ban drank it quickly and soon felt unwell, realizing the tea was drugged before collapsing unconscious.

At the Kaifeng Court, officials had discovered multiple handkerchiefs with the "Ci Rou" embroidery at the homes of missing women and traced the source to the mutual aid society in Wuxue Alley. Gu, Wan Fu, and Zhao Buyou led officials to the location, but the building was deserted. Searching the premises, Zhao Buyou found a purse under a table, recognizing it as the one Su had given to Ban.

Realizing Ban had been there and was likely in danger, he grew worried. Shortly after, Zhang arrived at the mutual aid society seeking Zhao Buyou. Zhang presented sketches he had made of various women he had encountered, including those from the mutual aid society. He hoped these drawings might be helpful in the investigation of the Fan Tower case and the missing women. Zhao Buyou quickly reviewed the sketches to identify the seamstress.

Ban regained consciousness in a damp, dark underground room and was surprised to find Mrs. Xie imprisoned there with her. Mrs. Xie explained that she had also been captured after applying for a job at the Ci Rou Mutual Aid Society and was beaten. Mrs. Xie warned Ban that the place was a vast maze from which escape was impossible, as prisoners were always blindfolded when moved.

Despite the warning, Ban was determined to find a way out, and Mrs. Xie reluctantly followed her attempt. Meanwhile, Yao He, having finished cooking, went to check on Ban and learned she hadn't returned. He immediately expressed concern and set out to find her. Navigating the underground passages, Ban and Mrs. Xie spotted patrolling guards and hid from them. Their search led them to a magnificent, brightly lit underground hall resembling a grand mansion, filled with women.

Inside, Luan was hosting foreign envoy Cui Hong and Minister Ma from the Office of Rites, enjoying music and entertainment. Luan was visibly angered to see Mrs. Xie and Ban there. Luan ordered their tongues cut out to ensure their silence, but a young woman tasked with the gruesome act discreetly advised Ban to feign compliance and promise not to reveal what she had seen. Ban, still affected by the drug, felt nauseous and vomited.

This unexpected reaction caused Luan to momentarily relent and spare them the mutilation for now. Envoy Cui expressed his country's urgent need for the thirty-six volumes of "The Treatise on Architectural Practices" and offered Luan a chest of gold as payment. Luan agreed to provide the books, hiding them within ten barrels of fine wine to be transported back. Luan then decided to select someone from the women present to serve as the "Brush" for the evening's entertainment, choosing Mrs. Xie.

Episode 21 Recap

Zhang Zeduan traveled around East Capital, faithfully painting everything he saw and heard. He had heard that Zhao Buyou was investigating the Women's Aid Society and had painted a picture of the society that morning. He brought it to show Zhao Buyou. Looking at the painting, Zhao Buyou noticed a carriage delivering wine barrels to the aid society.

The horse pulling the carriage had a brand mark on its flank, a fish symbol identical to the mark used by Yayuan Mansion. At Yayuan Mansion, to entertain officials seeking pleasure, Luan Hui devised many depraved ideas. He selected Mrs. Xie to be the "brush" for the day. He had her tied up and suspended, using her hair as a brush dipped in ink to write characters.

Mrs. Xie was tormented and cried out for help, but her pleas were useless. Foreign envoy Cui Hong and Minister Ma laughed nearby. Zhao Ban was furious and tried to rush forward to save Mrs. Xie, but two strong men held her back. Luan Hui used Mrs. Xie's hair to write the characters for "Elegance." He called Cui Hong and Minister Ma to admire his work, and they praised it highly.

Mrs. Xie, hanging for too long, began to cough up blood. Seeing the bloodstain on his writing, Luan Hui became enraged. He picked up a stick and began savagely beating Mrs. Xie until she was near death. Zhao Ban shouted for Luan Hui to stop. Luan Hui ordered his men to bury Mrs. Xie and threatened Zhao Ban, saying he would make her try some new tricks.

Suddenly, Ci smashed Minister Ma's wine bottle, causing Luan Hui to curse at her. Terrified, she knelt and begged for mercy. A steward quietly informed Luan Hui that his wife, Zou Ziyin, had returned to the estate. Knowing Zou Ziyin was renowned in East Capital as "his lioness," Luan Hui immediately left in a hurry, telling Cui Hong and Minister Ma to go their separate ways. Zhao Ban was spared for the moment.

Late that night, Zhao Ban tried to sneak away. Wu Mei, another girl in the same room, told her it was useless, there was no way out. Zhao Ban had witnessed Mrs. Xie being beaten to death and did not want to wait for the same fate, nor did she want her family to worry.

Zhao Ban promised that if she escaped, she would inform the family of another girl, but Wu Mei stated she was an orphan with no one who cared about her. Wu Mei offered to show Zhao Ban a dangerous escape route, saying whether she could get out depended on her own fate. Zhao Buyou deduced that Zhao Ban was being held at Yayuan Mansion and asked Gu Zhen and Wan Fu to go and rescue her.

Meanwhile, Luan Hui waited upon Zou Ziyin as she washed her feet, attempting to placate her and present her with a box of gold. Zou Ziyin was unimpressed and verbally abused him. Luan Hui, though resentful, was submissive and obeyed her every command. Zou Ziyin produced sketches of two suspects from the Fan Building case and instructed Luan Hui to silence them quickly. Zhao Ban attempted to escape along the route Wu Mei had pointed out.

She unexpectedly encountered Ci, who offered to lead her. A steward was waiting for them halfway, giving them Yayuan's account ledger containing evidence of the Zou family bribing officials, a map for their escape route, and a dagger for self-defense. Ci then killed the steward swiftly. As they left, Zhao Ban learned that Ci had threatened the steward's family to gain his cooperation.

Ci explained that "they" had killed innocent women like Yingying and those listed on the red silk from the Fan Building. She had risked her life to get the evidence, believing the ledger was the only way to bring them down. Luan Hui opened the sketches and immediately recognized Ci as one of the suspects. He rushed to the secret room to apprehend both Zhao Ban and Ci.

Gu Zhen, Zhao Buyou, Wan Fu, and others entered the area behind Yayuan Mansion and discovered two workers burying Mrs. Xie. Zhao Ban and Ci reached the exit of the underground maze after navigating its twists and turns. Suddenly, Luan Hui burst in with his men. They quickly hid. Wu Mei then appeared, drawing Luan Hui and the guards away to create a diversion, covering Zhao Ban and Ci's escape from the secret room.

Just as Zhao Ban and Ci were about to ride away, assassins from the Stick Society arrived, alerted to their presence. Ci pushed Zhao Ban onto a horse, urging her to deliver the ledger to Lu Sanzhen at the Taoyuan Welfare Center and asking her to take care of Su. The Stick Society had been hired by Zou Ziyin to capture Ci.

Recognizing Ci from the wanted sketch, they killed her on the spot and carried her body away to report back to Zou Ziyin. Gu Zhen, Zhao Buyou, Wan Fu, and others arrived at Yayuan Mansion, searching everywhere for Zhao Ban without success. Officers from the Kaifeng Court found the injured Wu Mei in the underground maze. From her, they learned that Zhao Ban and Ci had fled towards the Welfare Center.

Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue immediately set out for the Welfare Center to find Zhao Ban. Zhao Ban rode quickly back to the Welfare Center, where she learned that Chi Liaoliao was the headmistress. When Lu Sanzhen heard that Ci was in danger, she desperately wanted to go and rescue her. Chi Liaoliao, however, was solely focused on getting the ledger. Lu Sanzhen was heartbroken that Chi Liaoliao only cared about the ledger while Ci's fate was unknown.

Chi Liaoliao argued that they needed the ledger to completely expose Zou Mian, Luan Hui, and the corrupt officials, or they would never be free. Lu Sanzhen asked Zhao Ban to look after Su and went off alone to try and save Ci. Chi Liaoliao then pressed Zhao Ban to hand over the ledger. Zhao Ban, unwilling to give it to her, hid it in a basket hanging from a beam.

He Huan, who was reading in the room, pretended not to see anything. In anger, Chi Liaoliao locked both Zhao Ban and He Huan in the woodshed. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu rescued all the women trapped in the underground maze at Yayuan Mansion, but they did not find Zhao Ban or Luan Hui. Wang Yunshang arrived at Yayuan to help with the search.

Gu Zhen heard that Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue had gone to the Welfare Center and immediately headed there to find them, with Wang Yunshang following closely behind. Wan Fu also brought his men and headed to the Welfare Center. Luan Hui discovered that the Yayuan ledger was missing. He immediately went to report to his wife. The Stick Society members had already delivered Ci's body.

Finding no ledger on Ci's body, Zou Ziyin harshly reprimanded Luan Hui and told him to flee to the south for a while. In the woodshed, Zhao Ban thanked He Huan for covering for her regarding the ledger. He Huan told her that while Chi Liaoliao had a bad temper, she was a good person who cared deeply for the children at the Welfare Center, being an orphan herself.

Zhao Ban learned that He Huan's father was a chief carpenter on a boat on Lake Tai and that he had witnessed his family's tragic death, making Zhao Ban feel his experience was similar to Wen Yue's. Zhao Buyou, Yao He, and Wen Yue arrived at the Welfare Center looking for Zhao Ban. Chi Liaoliao was waiting and wanted to test Wen Yue's skills.

Wen Yue agreed, and Zhao Buyou and Yao He took the opportunity to search for Zhao Ban. Wen Yue easily subdued Chi Liaoliao and pressed her for her true identity. Chi Liaoliao only responded that she had always lived in Wen Yue's shadow. Suddenly, Zou Ziyin and the Stick Society assassins stormed into the Welfare Center, demanding the ledger from Chi Liaoliao and threatening her with the same fate as Ci.

Chi Liaoliao confessed that she was the "orderer" and asked Wen Yue to join forces against Zou Ziyin. Wen Yue and Chi Liaoliao were surrounded. They fought back fiercely but were outnumbered and wounded. Chi Liaoliao, due to exhaustion, was beaten to death. Zhao Buyou fought his way out of the room where he was cornered to protect Wen Yue. Gu Zhen, Wang Yunshang, and Wan Fu arrived with reinforcements just in time.

Wang Yunshang used her father, Governor Wang, to pressure Zou Ziyin. Gu Zhen ordered Zou Ziyin's arrest. Yao He finally located Zhao Ban, who eagerly handed the ledger to Gu Zhen. Zhao Mo'er, having learned about the events at Yayuan from colleagues at the Office of Justice, rushed home. Seeing Zhao Ban safe, he was both relieved and angry and could not help but scold her fiercely. Zhao Ban and Wen Yue pondered where Luan Hui might be hiding.

Zhao Ban remembered the foreign envoy being present in the underground maze. Zhao Li, who had spent time in the palace as a child with his father and could understand some foreign speech, mentioned that foreign envoys could likely be found at the Reception Hall for Envoy.

Episode 22 Recap

Laoba grieved deeply after his wife's death. Despite being offered food and encouragement to take care of himself, he was heartbroken. He asked Ban if his wife had suffered before she died. Ban reassured him that she had not suffered at all. Laoba recalled his wife's wish to make lily bulb noodles for Ban and found solace in the thought that she hadn't suffered. Susu tearfully asked Ban if she had returned alone.

She recounted a dream where her mother visited, giving her advice on eating well, not just sweets, not getting undressed when sweating, and avoiding too much cold water. Susu then expressed her fear that her mother would never come back. Ban tried to comfort her, insisting her mother would return, but Susu cried, saying she missed her mother. Ban later entrusted Susu to Mrs. Lan, who lived alone.

Ban felt irresponsible for this decision, but Wen Yue reassured her, pointing out that Mrs. Lan was more experienced and wished to adopt Susu, which was a positive outcome. Wen Yue reminded Ban that she was still young herself and shouldn't be too hard on herself. Ban agreed that Mrs. Lan would not be lonely with Susu and that their close proximity meant Susu could visit anytime.

Ban reflected that family is defined by love, not just blood ties, and exists wherever there is love. Wen Yue commended Ban for having grown up. Zhao Buyou brought his father, Zhao Li, to the Reception Hall for Envoy, hoping to find Envoy Cui to get information about Luan Hui. Knowing his father could understand foreign languages, Buyou asked him to listen to any foreign speech and report what was said.

However, Zhao Li claimed he had forgotten everything because he hadn't spoken to foreigners in years. Buyou initially told his father to go home, but Zhao Li insisted on staying, curious to look around. Buyou instructed his father to hide, promising to take him home later. Wen Yue brought Wu Mei to Sparrow Lane to stay at Xi's house, mentioning that Xi was Ban's close friend living nearby.

Wu Mei expressed her gratitude, but Wen Yue thanked her for saving Ban and invited her to visit whenever needed. Wen Yue gave Wu Mei fresh vegetables, noting how unreal everything seemed after being in darkness. Wen Yue acknowledged Wu Mei's fear that it might be a dream, reassuring her she would adapt and live an ordinary life free from past hardships. Wu Mei wondered what an ordinary life was, and Wen Yue told her she would discover it gradually.

Wen Yue met Xi, who warmly welcomed Wu Mei as a friend of Ban's. Xi offered to help Wu Mei to her house. Seeing Wu Mei safely taken care of by Xi, Wen Yue felt reassured and departed. Zhao Buyou directly questioned Envoy Cui about Luan Hui, hinting he knew about secrets concerning Envoy Cui's barrels. Envoy Cui feigned ignorance and stated he was busy loading ships to return home overnight.

Zhao Li then stepped forward, and Envoy Cui immediately recognized him, commenting on their resemblance, though Zhao Li quipped that he was more handsome. Buyou accused Envoy Cui of sneaking around and engaging in illegal activities. He warned Envoy Cui that the Kaifeng Court had surrounded the area and he would not be allowed to return home unless he confessed.

Under pressure, Envoy Cui admitted to meeting Mr. Luan Hui, who paid him triple the amount for one of his barrels because he was preparing for his journey home. Waiting officers called Luan Hui "Mr. Luan" and told him they needed him to clarify some unclear text in his account book, implying he was being taken to the Kaifeng Court. Ban recounted to Wen Yue the story of He Huan, who had been imprisoned with her.

He had told her his family, who were boat builders by Taihu Lake with the surname Su, had been attacked by villains who killed his parents and caused his sister to go missing. Hearing this, Wen Yue immediately suspected He Huan might be her long-lost brother. She went to the Welfare Center to find him. A young girl there led her to his room, where Wen Yue spotted a wooden Mahoraga figure.

He Huan returned to his room, and Wen Yue inquired about the Mahoraga figure. He Huan explained his sister made it for him but didn't color it, prompting Wen Yue to reveal she had made a similar uncolored Mahoraga figure for her own brother. He Huan then recounted the tragic night his parents were killed by villains, how the Mahoraga broke when he tried to intervene, and how he was knocked unconscious.

He woke to find his parents dead and his sister missing, having been missed by the fleeing murderer. He described his difficult years as a wanderer before coming to East Capital, where Headmistress Chi at the Welfare Center took him in to care for the children. Seeing the orphans reminded him of his own childhood struggles, and he resolved not to let them suffer as he had. Wen Yue, along with Mo'er and Ban, promised to visit frequently.

The siblings shared emotional memories of their childhood by the river. Wen Yue acknowledged the abruptness of their reunion, brought about by Ban, believing it was a reunion orchestrated by their parents' spirits. He Huan called Wen Yue "Sister," confirming their identities, and Wen Yue referred to him as "Zheng." He expressed his desire to raise the Welfare Center children now that Headmistress Chi was gone, and Wen Yue fully supported his plan.

To make up for not having a proper wedding, Zhao Buyou arrived at Wen Yue's umbrella shop with a brightly decorated carriage, dramatically announcing he was there to pick up his wife. Onlookers remarked that it looked like a wedding procession. Zhao Buyou declared that he saw his wife anew each day, making every day a new wedding day for them. The crowd applauded and wished them well. Wen Yue happily joined him in the carriage to go home.

Upon their arrival, the family, consisting of Zhao Buyou, Zhao Ban'er, Zhao Mo'er, and Zhao Li, had each prepared a dish to welcome Wen Yue. Zhao Buyou explained that each dish represented a family member: the "Youdunzi" pancake for him, Spicy Fried Duck with Broad Bean Paste for Ban'er, Cuttlefish for Mo'er, and "Fengqili" Pear for his father. He added that the entire meal, titled "A Lifetime with You," symbolized their commitment to always being there for Wen Yue.

Zhao Li remarked that with Wen Yue home, their family was finally complete. The family of five joyfully shared their reunion dinner, toasting to being together. He Huan arrived urgently at the Zhao household, explaining that he had gone to Wen Yue's umbrella shop and then came there when he couldn't find her.

He informed them that the authorities were taking over the Welfare Center and moving the children to a welfare house, leaving him nowhere to go but to seek refuge with them. Upon Wen Yue introducing him as her brother, the entire Zhao family warmly welcomed him. Zhao Mo'er immediately offered his room to He Huan, explaining part of it was for storage but He Huan could use the rest.

He Huan hesitated, not wanting Mo'er to give up his room, saying he was used to sleeping anywhere from his refugee days. Mo'er insisted, as staying in the dormitory was convenient for his work. Later, Zhao Buyou noticed Wen Yue seemed troubled despite reuniting with her brother. He asked why she wasn't happy. Wen Yue expressed unease, feeling that everything had been too smooth recently—finding evidence against the Zou family, locating Chi Liaoliao, and finding her brother by chance.

It felt unreal, too perfect. Zhao Buyou suggested her past hardships made her paranoid and that good times had finally arrived, citing a proverb about fortunes changing. Still feeling unsettled, Wen Yue confessed she felt uneasy. Zhao Buyou promised to work harder and buy a new house to make her feel more secure. Zhao Buyou dressed in a new outfit and headed out to set up his litigation stall, accompanied by He Huan, who offered to help.

He Huan inquired about Judge Dong Qian, having read about his reputation as a just and capable official. He Huan revealed that he and Wen Yue were from the same area, the Taihu Boatyard, where Dong Qian had served as the county magistrate. He wondered if their family might have been spared if they had befriended him then. Zhao Buyou downplayed Judge Dong's influence, stating he was just a local official who had to follow orders.

He Huan asked Buyou to share more about Judge Dong when he had the chance. Buyou, who had been an archive keeper and had little direct contact with Judge Dong, promised to ask around. Buyou then encouraged He Huan to look at the morning market stalls. Meanwhile, Wen Yue was helping with the move from the Welfare Center to the welfare house.

Helping another child search, Wen Yue found Shiliu hiding in Chi Liaoliao's room because she didn't want to go to the welfare house. Shiliu explained that He Huan wanted them to go, and everyone, including Chi Liaoliao, had to listen to him. Shiliu further disclosed that Chi Liaoliao listened to He Huan the most, even wearing clothes and eating foods she disliked because He Huan preferred them.

Wen Yue, sensing something was amiss with He Huan, discovered a long dress and hairpin in Chi Liaoliao's room that were identical to her own. This made her understand Chi Liaoliao's previous statement about living in Wen Yue's shadow and being doomed. It became apparent that He Huan had been trying to mold Chi Liaoliao to resemble Wen Yue. A feeling of unease settled upon Wen Yue.

Later, He Huan returned home and presented gifts: a belt for Zhao Buyou and a yellow dress for Zhao Ban'er. Both Zhao Buyou and Zhao Ban'er were delighted with their presents and expressed their gratitude and praise for He Huan. Wen Yue observed this interaction.

When Wen Yue commented on his efforts to bond with the family after being away for so long, He Huan said he felt he was causing trouble and wanted to contribute, implying others didn't like him as much as she did, though he quickly asserted that the children at the Welfare Center liked him. Zou Mian of the Manufacturing Bureau arrived by boat near the suburbs of East Capital.

That night, he summoned Liu, who was in charge of the Ministry of Justice, to his boat. Zou Mian humbly bowed and pleaded with Liu to help rescue his youngest daughter, Ziyin, from prison, claiming she was framed. He offered a chest of gold for the favor. Liu explained that the case had already been brought before the Emperor, and no one in the capital dared to get involved.

To emphasize the importance of his request, Zou Mian showed Liu a piece of yellow silk cloth, explaining it symbolized a past connection between his master and the Emperor, and that his master never bowed to anyone except in the Emperor's presence. By bowing to Liu, Zou Mian was showing the utmost respect, akin to bowing before the Emperor himself. Despite this gesture, Liu maintained he was powerless and advised Zou Mian to look elsewhere for help.

After Liu left, Zou Mian discussed the security measures taken to keep his secret visit confidential but worried about potential delays. He stressed that he had come personally for Ziyin and would spare no expense to secure her release, urging his subordinate to proceed quickly. Late that night, Zhao Buyou found Wen Yue still awake, carving a new Mahoraga figure.

She explained she was making it for Zheng because the one she made for him as a child, which he had kept all these years, was worn out. Buyou commented on their deep sibling bond. Wen Yue later presented the new figure to Zheng. She spoke about never forgetting their family life at the boatyard and the hardships she endured afterward to survive.

She emphasized that they were the only blood relatives remaining and needed to protect their new home and live well for their parents' sake. Zheng promised to listen to his sister.

Episode 23 Recap

When He Huan sought refuge with Wen Yue, Zhao Mo'er offered his room to him and moved to the Office of Justice. Feeling guilty, He Huan suggested Zhao Mo'er return home, but Zhao Mo'er assured him he was family and urged him to stay. Knowing Zhao Mo'er's interest in craftsmanship, He Huan gave him a ship blueprint left by his late father.

Zhao Mo'er was hesitant to accept something so valuable, but He Huan insisted, stating he cherished his new family and it was time to let go of the past. He Huan specifically asked Zhao Mo'er not to mention the blueprint to Wen Yue, fearing it would bring her sadness, and Zhao Mo'er agreed. He Huan invited Zhao Mo'er to dinner that night and offered to buy whatever he wanted to eat.

Zhao Mo'er returned home for dinner, much to the surprise and delight of Wen Yue, Zhao Ban'er, and Zhao Buyou. He Huan helped in the kitchen without mentioning that he had invited Zhao Mo'er. While Zhao Mo'er went to his room to get clean clothes, Zhao Buyou followed him. Zhao Mo'er showed Zhao Buyou the blueprint, which was for a warship.

He expressed confusion, noting that Wen Yue and He Huan's father was a chief shipbuilder at a private shipyard, and wondered why they would have plans for a warship. The fact that He Huan asked him to keep it secret from Wen Yue also struck him as odd. Zhao Buyou agreed that it seemed suspicious and instructed Zhao Mo'er to keep the matter confidential.

Gu Zhen arrived urgently to inform Zhao Buyou that Zou Mian might be secretly in East Capital. He Huan, nearby, overheard their conversation clearly. Zhao Buyou seemed distracted, and Gu Zhen noticed his preoccupation, but Zhao Buyou offered vague excuses to hide his thoughts. At dinner, He Huan prepared wine and toasted Zhao Buyou, expressing gratitude for being taken in and for having such a good family. Zhao Buyou, not accustomed to strong drink, quickly became intoxicated.

He Huan drank heavily as well, appearing to be drunk. Wen Yue suggested he rest inside and followed him, implying she knew he was pretending and advising him not to go out. He Huan agreed. Late that night, He Huan secretly went to the pier in the suburbs, observing the bustling activity around Zou Mian's large ship. He vowed to kill Zou Mian to avenge his deceased parents.

Wen Yue followed him and confronted him, revealing that she knew he drugged Zhao Buyou's wine to sneak out and kill Zou Mian. He Huan admitted he orchestrated the Mei's Boat case, the Hat Demon case, the Imperial Exam case, and the Fan Building case to dismantle Zou Mian's power and allies in East Capital.

He confessed to sending the bounties to Wen Yue himself, using Chi Liaoliao as a mere puppet, explaining that he wanted Wen Yue to witness his plans unfold. He revealed that Zou Mian had sent people to kill their family after their father discovered Zou Mian was illegally converting warship blueprints for transporting precious stones. He stated that Zhao Buyou also knew the truth but deliberately concealed it. He Huan suggested they confront Zhao Buyou to understand his reasons.

Zhao Buyou awoke late the next afternoon, feeling groggy. Zhao Li had prepared him a hangover soup and then left for Xianhe Residence. Suddenly, a package was thrown into the yard. Zhao Buyou retrieved it and found a message addressed to Wen Yue, asking her to meet the sender at the water stage in the business center to learn the truth about the Su family's murder.

Zhao Buyou went directly to the business center to meet the sender, who was a woman in black. The woman insisted on speaking only to Wen Yue and claimed that Zou Mian had sent Dong Qian to kill Wen Yue's entire family, and that Zhao Ban'er and Zhao Mo'er were Dong Qian's children.

Zhao Buyou admitted he had received Dong Qian's notes and knew he was the murderer, but had hidden the truth to prevent the family from turning against each other, explaining that he didn't know how to tell Wen Yue that her adopted siblings were the children of the man who massacred her family. Suddenly, Wen Yue appeared, revealing that she had sent Wu Mei to impersonate the sender to draw Zhao Buyou out and hear the truth from him directly.

Unseen by Zhao Buyou, Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er had quietly followed him, concerned, and overheard his confession. Overwhelmed by the revelation, Zhao Mo'er ran off into the rain. Zhao Ban'er chased after him, urging him to return home and apologize to Wen Yue together. Zhao Mo'er, who had often studied Dong Qian's case files at the Office of Justice and admired him greatly, was devastated that his idol was the murderer of Wen Yue's parents, who had raised them.

Feeling ashamed and unable to face Wen Yue, he wanted to be alone. Left without her brother, Zhao Ban'er went to Yao He, weeping as she recalled Wen Yue's many years of care and kindness and expressing guilt and helplessness. Yao He stayed by her side, offering silent support. Wen Yue and Zhao Buyou searched for Zhao Mo'er without success. Wen Yue encountered He Huan, realizing that this situation was part of his plan.

He Huan led Wen Yue to a large residence he had purchased in East Capital. Meanwhile, a dejected Zhao Buyou returned home. Zhao Li, complaining he was hungry, offered to make soup noodles when Zhao Buyou said he wasn't up to cooking. Zhao Li served the noodles, mentioning he had anticipated such a day might come.

He recalled how he had staged a scene years ago to make it appear that Zhao Ban'er and Zhao Mo'er were his illegitimate children to help Zhao Buyou keep them when no one else would take them. Filled with self-reproach, Zhao Buyou listened as Zhao Li offered words of comfort. Zhao Buyou noticed a clay figure Wen Yue made, a "mohelo," broken on the floor and asked Zhao Li when Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er had left.

Zhao Li remembered seeing Zhao Mo'er return home with He Huan, whispering something to Zhao Ban'er, and then the two younger siblings leaving together. Zhao Buyou immediately understood He Huan's involvement. He Huan showed Wen Yue the large house he bought, which included a pavilion identical to the one at their childhood home by Taihu Lake. However, Wen Yue was worried about Zhao Ban'er and Zhao Mo'er, which angered He Huan.

He accused her of prioritizing the children of their enemy over him, her own brother. Wen Yue called him heartless, and He Huan threatened his own life, saying if she thought he was wrong, she should kill him, which would make the "bounty sender" disappear and allow her to return to her life with the Zhao family as if nothing had happened.

Episode 24 Recap

Su Zheng spoke to his sister Wen Yue, expressing his hurt that she blamed him for being ruthless. He asserted that everything he had painstakingly done was to clear the Su family's name and seek justice for their parents who died unjustly. He challenged her, saying if she truly believed he was wrong, she should kill him then and there.

Wen Yue urged him to stop if he was truly her brother, Su Zheng, explaining that there were things in the world far more important than revenge. She recalled their mother's last words, "Run! Don't look back," and shared that she was grateful to have lived, finding happiness in her humble and ordinary life.

Su Zheng questioned how she could find happiness while Zou Mian, their parents' killer, remained alive, and how they could stand by when the children of their father's killer were within reach, doing nothing. Wen Yue reiterated her wish for him to find and live his own life, urging him to live well. The next morning, two customers arrived at Wen Yue's umbrella shop to place an order, but found it closed.

Manager Liu from the neighboring umbrella shop immediately approached them, trying to divert their business. He claimed Wen Yue's shop was unreliable and would definitely delay their orders, mentioning she wouldn't be back anytime soon. Wen Yue arrived just then and confronted Manager Liu, telling the customers he was idle and hadn't received an order in a month. She invited the customers into her shop, explaining her early closure was due to family matters.

Later, Manager Fei arrived and commented on Wen Yue being late and quarreling with Manager Liu again. She warned Wen Yue to pay more attention to Zhao Buyou, cautioning that many people were interested in him and she might lose her "perfect husband" if she wasn't careful, just like losing customers. Wen Yue thanked her for the reminder. Zou Mian had used all his connections to get his daughter, Zou Ziyin, and her husband, Luan Hui, released from prison temporarily.

Zou Ziyin, used to a life of privilege, was immediately angered by a servant upon arriving and threatened to punish her. Luan Hui tried to calm his wife down. Zou Mian arrived and spoke to Zou Ziyin, sensing her resentment towards him. He explained that when he was younger, he was focused on his career in Jiangnan to revitalize the Zou family and couldn't be with her often.

He believed that finding her a suitable husband was a way to compensate for his absence. Zou Ziyin complained that he had sent Luan Hui, her husband, to the East Capital for a job, separating her from her father all these years, even though Luan Hui had married into their family.

Zou Mian explained that the East Capital was a crucial place and he needed someone he could trust there, implying Luan Hui was that person, and adding that Luan Hui's talents would have been wasted in the South. Luan Hui thanked Zou Mian for his trust but apologized for causing trouble. Zou Ziyin defended Luan Hui, claiming his arrest was a setup. She asked if Zou Mian had already taken care of everything since he got them out.

Zou Mian revealed he had used all his connections for this "half-day reunion," implying they would have to return to prison soon. Zou Ziyin was horrified at the thought of returning to the "filthy place" and refused. Luan Hui offered to take Zou Ziyin back to Jiangnan immediately and live in seclusion, promising never to reveal anything, and pleaded with Zou Mian to save him.

Zou Mian mocked Zou Ziyin's nature, saying she could never live in seclusion given her upbringing. Su Zheng came to see Wen Yue again and apologized, asking her not to be angry with him. Wen Yue asked if he truly thought he was wrong, reiterating that there was nothing wrong with wanting revenge for their parents, but there were things in the world far more important than revenge.

She told him she hoped he could find and live his own life, urging him to live well. Inside the Zou family's temporary residence, Zou Mian explained to Zou Ziyin that Luan Hui, by relying on the Zou family's influence and his greed, had brought about their current disaster, causing public outrage and the Emperor's fury. He explained that getting Luan Hui released for this brief moment was the most he could do, providing a final shred of dignity.

He stated that true family members sacrifice themselves in critical moments, and if he didn't act decisively, the entire Zou family would be ruined. Zou Ziyin tearfully agreed that Luan Hui had made mistakes but was still her husband and had acted for the family's sake, pleading with her father to spare his life.

Zou Mian was resolute, stating Luan Hui was a son-in-law married into the family, and given the situation, cutting off an arm to save the body was the only way to preserve the Zou family. He claimed to know everything about their actions in the East Capital over the years. Zou Ziyin ultimately conceded, prioritizing the family, and told Luan Hui she would take care of his family, urging him to accept his fate.

Luan Hui, realizing his doom, called Zou Ziyin heartless and a venomous snake, lamenting his affection for her. He turned to Zou Mian, accusing him of using him from the start and stating that if he couldn't live, he would die with Zou Mian.

Zou Mian dismissed him as a poor village tutor who could never hope to enter the East Capital without the Zou family's support, calling his threat to kill him "a joke" and Luan Hui just "an abandoned pawn." Zou Mian then had both Zou Ziyin and Luan Hui killed. That night, Manager Fei came to Wen Yue's shop and immediately noticed Wen Yue was troubled, even seeing her taking out her frustration on an umbrella.

She offered to introduce a fortune teller, jokingly saying Wen Yue seemed to have bad luck lately. Wen Yue admitted that Manager Fei was the only person she could truly talk to in the East Capital. Manager Fei, while claiming she didn't see Wen Yue as a friend but a rival, confessed that she envied Wen Yue and had been competing with her for over a decade in umbrellas, shops, and even men.

She explained that she eventually realized life was about living well and that the competition with Wen Yue motivated her. Wen Yue then asked what Manager Fei would do if someone tried to steal her good life. Manager Fei firmly stated she would hold onto what was hers and chase anyone away who dared to take it. Wen Yue, feeling enlightened by the conversation, said she had been troubled by some things but now understood.

As Manager Fei was leaving, she reminded Wen Yue not to forget to visit Manager Yu at the tailor's shop the next evening, almost forgetting the "real business" while talking about fortune-telling. Manager Fei's reminder implicitly referenced the place where Wen Yue and Zhao Buyou first met fifteen years ago. Meanwhile, Zou Mian spoke with his subordinate, expressing his condolences for his daughter's death.

He blamed himself for spoiling Zou Ziyin and letting her and Luan Hui act recklessly, which led to public outrage. He cited the lost ledger as the final blow, giving his enemies who coveted his position a perfect excuse to attack him. He stated he couldn't protect himself if the investigation followed Ziyin and Luan Hui, implying their deaths were necessary for his survival and, for Ziyin, a release from the dire situation.

He ordered his subordinate to secretly transport Zou Ziyin and Luan Hui's bodies back to prison the next day and announce they died of illness. He also instructed the subordinate to spread the word that he would be hosting a grand banquet on a ship on the outskirts of the city the following night. This, he explained, would surely attract unwelcome guests. He planned to use "Fake it and escape" and "shedding its shell" tactics to evade them.

Having served in the Manufacturing Bureau for years, he knew the Emperor's preferences and believed presenting a rare stone would earn him imperial favor and security. Only then would he deal with his enemies one by one, using their demise to honor his daughter. On the streets, a storyteller captivated a crowd by speaking about a rare stone discovered in a southern lake, said to be forged by the heavens and a symbol of the Great Song's prosperity.

He recounted the Astronomical Bureau's prediction that bringing the stone to the capital at an auspicious time would ensure eternal prosperity for the Great Song. The storyteller then introduced Zou Mian as the official tasked by the Emperor to escort this stone by ship, but quickly added that Zou Mian's reputation suggested he was using this task to extort people's wealth and oppress the common folk.

Elsewhere, Zhao Buyou and Gu Zhen visited Zhang Zeduan, hoping his painting might hold clues to the Luan couple's whereabouts after being taken from prison. Zhang Zeduan stated he hadn't noticed anyone from the Ministry of Justice passing by with them. Wang Yunshang then arrived in a hurry, having overheard her father, Prefect Wang, planning to meet an esteemed guest that night on a ship in a wild forest by the Bian River in the eastern suburbs.

She mentioned that the ship was featured in Zhang Zeduan's painting, prompting Zhao Buyou and Gu Zhen to quickly realize this might be connected to Zou Mian and thank her for the crucial information. That night, Wen Yue, disguised, arrived at the large ship anchored by the river. She looked through a window and saw men inside, seemingly involved in a banquet. Believing Zou Mian was present, she burst in, demanding they stop.

However, she found only two performers, a shadow play and vocal act duo. They explained that someone had paid them the previous night to perform there and create the illusion that Mr. Zou was present, seemingly to lure someone. Wen Yue realized she had fallen into a trap just as soldiers stormed in to capture an "assassin." With no other option, Wen Yue escaped by jumping into the river. Soaked, Wen Yue went to Manager Yu's tailor's shop.

Manager Yu greeted her, confirming he was planning to sell the shop and retire because he was old and couldn't continue. He invited her to warm up by the fire. He mentioned that earlier, another person had come in soaking wet and also asked for dry clothes, having also been pushed into the river while watching a commotion. This detail connected back to Wen Yue's escape.

Manager Yu also indicated he had something to tell her, which he implied she would know soon enough. Meanwhile, Gu Zhen, Wan Fu, and their men arrived at the suburban ship, only to find it empty. They realized Zou Mian had tricked them. Wan Fu expressed frustration, saying the Luan couple were their evidence and questioning what to do without their testimony to link the ledger to Zou Mian.

Driven by a desire for revenge, he declared he would lead his men to intercept Zou Mian and kill him. Zhao Buyou desperately stopped Wan Fu, arguing that with their small number against Zou Mian's many guards, they would be walking into a bloodbath with no one surviving. Wan Fu and his men stated they were not afraid to die.

Zhao Buyou appealed to them, reminding them that Kaifeng Court was a place to resolve grievances and investigate cases through the law, not through personal vendettas. He urged them to bring Zou Mian to justice by exposing his crimes to the public, letting the people of the East Capital see his true nature, which was their proper course of action.

Gu Zhen, though seemingly sharing Zhao Buyou's sentiment on seeking justice through the law, appeared resigned, telling Wan Fu to proceed. Zhao Buyou continued trying to dissuade them from pursuing a violent, potentially suicidal path. Zhao Buyou arrived at Manager Yu's tailor shop, where he had arranged to meet Wen Yue. He repeatedly apologized to her.

Wen Yue acknowledged that Zhao Buyou had kept things from her to protect their family, which she understood, but she also held it against him for not trusting her and not realizing how important the Zhao family in Sparrow Lane was to her. She reaffirmed that their family was truly whole only when they were together, and she still felt that way. She asked to visit Ban, and they went together to Yao He's place.

Yao He informed them he had heard the Luan couple had died in prison from an illness outbreak, but suspected Zou Mian had actually orchestrated their deaths, perhaps using the rescue as a way to silence them. Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue found Zhao Ban'er. Zhao Buyou noted she seemed thin and asked her to come home, mentioning how good Wen Yue's cooking was. Zhao Ban'er was hesitant, feeling ashamed and saying she had "no face" to see Wen Yue.

Wen Yue gently told her that the grudges from the previous generation were not their burden and apologized to Ban, emphasizing that Ban had done nothing wrong. When Ban asked if Wen Yue still considered her family, Wen Yue warmly reminded her how long they had lived together and how she had watched Ban grow up, stating it was impossible not to see her as family.

Ban then asked about Mo and Buyou, and Wen Yue insisted they were not to blame either, urging Ban and Mo not to blame Buyou for his actions to protect their current family. She asserted that only the evildoers were to blame, and that once these troubles passed, their family would be together again forever.

Ban was moved to tears and confided that she used to envy others who had mothers until Wen Yue came into her life, after which she never felt that way again. Meanwhile, Zhao Mo'er went to Wen Yue's umbrella shop, intending to apologize and give her the umbrella design scrolls he had compiled, but he couldn't bring himself to go in. He went to a tavern instead and drank heavily. Su Zheng was also at the tavern, drinking alone.

Zhao Mo'er recognized him and, intoxicated, asked Su Zheng to deliver the scrolls to Wen Yue. He apologized to Su Zheng, including on Ban's behalf, and expressed his inability to atone for his father, Dong Qian. He lamented being a mere scholar, powerless despite knowing who was behind everything. Su Zheng agreed that it wasn't too late for action.

He quoted Fan Zhongyan, saying "Better to die with a voice than to live in silence," mentioning he heard this from Qiyu at the welfare center. He spoke of the world's harsh realities ("If we're not at the table, we're on the menu") and admired Qiyu's courage in his actions. He asked Zhao Mo'er if he wished for fewer unfortunate people like them in the world, which Zhao Mo'er affirmed. Su Zheng then suggested they still had a chance to act.

Episode 25 Recap

Su Zheng sought to exploit Zhao Mo'er's guilt, invoking the sacrifices of others like Song Qiyu, Sun Bo, and Ci who paid a price for justice. He painted himself as a small but vital "fishbone" capable of obstructing the villain.

Su Zheng revealed that Zou Mian's ship, carrying a rare stone, would pass under Rainbow Bridge via the East Water Gate the next day to meet the Emperor, warning that if Zou Mian regained power, their pursuit of justice would be futile. Zhao Mo'er vowed to ensure Zou Mian's ship would not cross the bridge. Wen Yue arrived that night, revealing her attempt to kill Zou Mian had failed.

Su Zheng expressed concern and urged her not to engage in such dangerous acts again now that they were reunited. Wen Yue countered that with Luan Hui and his wife dead, there were no witnesses against Zou Mian, and his gaining the Emperor's favor upon presenting the stone would ruin Su Zheng's plans. Su Zheng insisted he didn't care about his plans, only about not losing her, having already lost all their family.

He told her Zou Mian would get his due and she shouldn't risk her life. He then asked her to cook him a meal the next day, just for him, and she agreed. Zhao Ban'er brought food made by Yao He, concerned their father hadn't eaten. Zhao Buyou, home but preoccupied with finding evidence against Zou Mian, assured her he could cook. Ban'er offered Yao He's help during this time.

Zhao Buyou also touched on the difficulty of Wen Yue's situation, suggesting that pretending ignorance was necessary for the family's peace, but promised the family would remain together as long as he and Wen Yue were present. He stated the priority was bringing Zou Mian to justice, though he hadn't yet found a way.

When Zhao Buyou called for their father, Zhao Li, he discovered Zhao Li had left home, leaving behind a farewell letter declaring his intention to spend all his wealth visiting brothels across the city, seeking release from the family's troubles and his own guilt. Zhao Buyou and Zhao Ban'er were stunned and immediately went to find him. Zhao Buyou and Zhao Ban'er searched for Zhao Li in the most expensive brothel district, wondering if he would really be there.

They found him surrounded by women, seemingly enjoying himself. Zhao Li strangely dismissed them, using a phrase typically reserved for the Emperor. When Zhao Ban'er asked about the cost of Zhao Li's night, the staff stated they didn't charge in silver, and the private room alone cost ten liang of gold. Shocked by the price, Zhao Ban'er was told by Zhao Buyou to take their father home while he handled the payment.

Despite her reluctance to leave him, Zhao Buyou insisted, urging her to show backbone, and Zhao Ban'er ultimately forced Zhao Li away. When Zhao Buyou attempted to pay, the brothel staff refused any money, bowing and pleading for mercy, treating him with excessive deference. They even referred to Zhao Ban'er as an Imperial Princess. Perplexed, Zhao Buyou quickly left.

He and Zhao Ban'er discussed the strange encounter, with Zhao Ban'er confirming she was called "Imperial Princess" and Zhao Li stating he hadn't spent anything. Zhao Li claimed the staff must have mistaken him for the Emperor, explaining they were of the same royal bloodline and he bore a strong resemblance to "Eleventh Brother" (the Emperor) in his youth, often being mistaken for him.

He said he left the court because the Emperor couldn't tolerate his truthfulness and held a grudge. He insisted he hadn't deliberately used the Emperor's identity; the staff simply prostrated themselves upon seeing him, mistaking him entirely. Zhao Buyou examined Zhao Li, and suddenly an idea for dealing with Zou Mian came to him. Wen Yue prepared the meal for Su Zheng, cooking his favorite homeland dishes.

They drank a toast to their parents, and Su Zheng apologized for hiding his identity from her for so long, watching her secretly. He claimed he couldn't bear seeing Zhao Buyou "deliberately deceiving" her. Wen Yue defended Zhao Buyou, calling him her brother-in-law and stating he had his reasons for any secrets, and that she wouldn't have been reunited with Su Zheng if not for Zhao Buyou taking her in.

Su Zheng acknowledged the difficulties between them but proposed a way to reconcile them and make them a happy family: Zhao Mo'er killing Zou Mian to avenge his father. Wen Yue vehemently opposed Mo'er risking his life, arguing he was still a child. Su Zheng countered that he too was a child when he began his quest. Wen Yue stressed Mo'er's naive but determined nature.

Su Zheng saw Mo'er stopping Zou Mian as a way to both avenge and redeem his father, a chance to achieve two goals at once. Wen Yue sensed Su Zheng wasn't telling her everything. Su Zheng then revealed it was his birthday, asking if she had forgotten. She apologized, promising to celebrate with him every year from then on, but insisted Mo'er's situation couldn't wait. Su Zheng called himself foolish as Wen Yue rushed off, heartbroken, to stop Zhao Mo'er.

Wen Yue hurried back home to find Zhao Buyou also gone. Taking Zhao Ban'er with her, she rushed to the Office of Justice to find Zhao Mo'er. He wasn't there, but a colleague informed them he had borrowed money to buy materials. On his desk, they found a drawing that looked like Rainbow Bridge and noted he had purchased niter and sulfur. Wen Yue suddenly realized these were gunpowder ingredients and remembered Zhao Mo'er had made powerful explosives before.

She correctly deduced his plan: to use the explosives to blow up Rainbow Bridge, Zou Mian's route. Realizing the danger, they decided to find Inspector Gu Zhen. Meanwhile, news was spreading rapidly through the business center and the city that Zou Mian would face a public trial that night, advertised as an "earth-shattering revelation," with children even singing about it.

Near Rainbow Bridge, Zou Mian's ship stopped upon encountering a small boat from which regal flute music was being played—a tune the Emperor was known to play. Zhao Buyou and Zhao Li were in the small boat, Zhao Li playing the flute. Zhao Buyou called out to Zou Mian, ordering the criminal to get off his ship and come meet His Majesty.

Zou Mian, mistakenly believing Zhao Li was the Emperor due to his resemblance, quickly ordered his ship docked and prepared to comply. Zhao Li, nervous about his disguise (which Zhao Buyou insisted was accurate based on portraits), hesitated. Zou Mian's men noted a difference from the Emperor they knew and invited "His Majesty" onto their ship instead. Realizing Zou Mian's suspicion was rising, Zhao Buyou ordered Zhao Li to verbally abuse him to make the act more convincing.

Zhao Li reluctantly cursed Zou Mian. This only deepened Zou Mian's suspicion. Fearing exposure, Zhao Buyou told Zhao Li to retreat, and they hastily went ashore on their raft. Zou Mian quickly realized it was a trick and ordered his men to capture them. Wen Yue and Zhao Ban'er arrived at Rainbow Bridge, where Inspector Gu Zhen and Wan Fu were already directing people. They relayed the information about Zhao Mo'er's plan to bomb the bridge using explosives.

Gu Zhen immediately ordered the bridge cleared, securing both sides and allowing only people to leave, citing the arrival of a "divine blessing" and "sacred stone" that no one should stand above. As people were evacuated, Zhao Ban'er spotted a figure pushing a cart onto the bridge and recognized Zhao Mo'er. Zhao Mo'er declared he had six firebombs, threatening to blow up the entire bridge if he lit the fuse, and ordered everyone to leave.

Wen Yue asked Gu Zhen for permission to speak with Zhao Mo'er, and Gu Zhen reluctantly agreed, giving her one chance and warning he would act if she failed. Wen Yue approached Zhao Mo'er, pleading with him not to be impulsive, to listen to her, and put down the fuse. Zhao Mo'er apologized but explained he intended to light the bombs when Zou Mian's ship arrived, to stop the stone and avenge "her".

Wen Yue insisted she never blamed him, saw him as family, never wanted revenge, and didn't need him to do anything for her. She urged him to put down the fuse again. Zhao Mo'er refused to let her come closer, stating he was doing this not just for her, but also for Sun Bo and Ding Dan, all victims of Zou Mian. He questioned the existence of justice when the lives of the poor are trampled.

Recalling his pact with Ding Dan to serve the people and pursue justice, he lamented that Zou Mian had committed so many evils without punishment, concluding there was no true justice. He declared his path was to "stain the rare stone with my blood, and pave the righteous path with my body."

Wen Yue implored him to be calm, reminding him his life, saved by their father and brother and raised by her for ten years (making her like a mother), was meant for something greater. She argued that blowing up the stone wouldn't change everything, that killing one Zou Mian wouldn't fix the world. She urged him to live, to change the world step by step, saying she wanted to see the better world he dreamed of and live with him.

As Zou Mian's ship drew closer, Zhao Mo'er stated he couldn't fail now, expressing his gratitude for being part of the Zhao family and being her and Zhao Buyou's brother, and urged her to leave. As Zhao Mo'er prepared to light the fuse, Wen Yue fell to her knees, begging him to live, asking if her ten years of raising him didn't make her half his mother.

She vowed to stay and die with him on the bridge if he went through with it, promising to be family in the next life. Moved, Zhao Mo'er hesitated and dropped the fuse. Just then, Su Zheng emerged from a nearby sedan chair, expressing utter disappointment in Zhao Mo'er. He revealed he had firebombs himself and intended to die with Zou Mian. He despaired that his plan was ruined as the ship had already passed.

He turned to Wen Yue, wishing she had come for him, not just Mo'er, lamenting that she saw him as different from Mo'er and was abandoning him again. He questioned if she was Su Yue or Wen Yue, and who she truly considered family. Wen Yue responded that her brother was Su Zheng, not He Huan. Despite someone shouting to spare him, soldiers shot Su Zheng with an arrow.

Su Zheng pulled out the arrow, declaring that the original Su Zheng had died long ago on the path of escape. He passionately recounted the suffering caused over twenty years by the transport of the rare stones: countless laborers killed, people displaced, the splendor of the capital built on the blood and tears of the people. He asserted that in such a world, "only evil can counter evil."

He suggested that if all those "Su Zhengs" had survived, they would all be "He Huan" today. He returned the Moheluo to Wen Yue before leaping into the river. Witnessing the event, Gu Zhen remembered the planned trial at the business center and rushed there with Wan Fu. At the business center, a crowd had gathered expecting a great revelation. The Governor was present with his daughter.

Storyteller Mr. Li announced he would recount a "tale of past secrets" with a "young talent," Zhao Buyou, whom he invited onto the stage. Zhao Buyou introduced himself as a litigator. Mr. Li and Zhao Buyou proceeded to tell the story of a corrupt official in the South who seized and modified military ships to transport treasures, showing a blueprint of the converted ships.

They revealed he murdered the shipbuilder Su Zhi and his entire family to cover up his crime, sparking outrage from the crowd. The story continued, detailing how this official rose in power, becoming a tyrant who tore down bridges, destroyed roads, and marked off areas with imperial seals, causing immense suffering and displacing people. They spoke of the honest official Li Yan, who repeatedly tried to impeach the corrupt man but failed.

When Li Yan decided to petition the Emperor directly, word leaked, and the corrupt official brutally murdered him, cutting off his head and replacing it with "a pig's head as a substitute." The crowd recognized this as the story of Li Yan. Finally, they recounted the plight of Dong Qian, who was threatened by the corrupt official due to his mother's illness and forced to commit wicked acts.

After his mother's death, Dong Qian broke ties, but the corrupt official retaliated by massacring Dong Qian's entire family, a horrifying act that drew gasps from the audience. Mr. Li concluded by stating that this very corrupt official was present in the business center that night. The crowd demanded he be revealed and brought out. Mr. Li called for the criminal Zou Mian to be brought forward. Zou Mian was then brought onto the stage, causing the Governor to look on in shock.

Episode 26 (Ending) Recap

Zhao Buyou, along with Zhao Li impersonating the Emperor, intended to lure Zou Mian onto their small boat. Zou Mian, being cunning and suspicious, delayed boarding. As Zhao Li scratched an intense itch on his back, a movement Zou Mian recognized as a gesture unique to the Emperor, he was struck with fear.

Believing he was in the Emperor's presence, Zou Mian begged for forgiveness and eagerly agreed to get on the boat to plead his case, allowing Zhao Buyou to capture him with ease. Upon arriving at the business center, Gu Zhen and Wan Fu saw Zou Mian bound on the stage. Wang Fuyin recognized邹勉and approached him.

Zou Mian loudly proclaimed his innocence, claiming he was transporting the rare stone for the imperial court when he was hijacked and then falsely accused of corruption. Wang Fuyin initially seemed inclined to take the matter to Kaifeng Court for trial, stating Zhao Buyou needed to provide evidence. However, the gathered crowd protested, demanding a public trial at the business center. Zhao Buyou announced he had a witness and requested to question him there, which Wang Fuyin granted.

Soon after, officers from the Imperial Guard Department arrived, intending to take Zou Mian away. Gu Zhen and Wan Fu immediately moved to block them, declaring that Kaifeng Court was in session at the business center and no unauthorized personnel were allowed entry. Zhao Buyou questioned the witness, Zheng Dun, who confessed his guilt.

Zheng Dun stated he had worked for the邹family for nearly a decade, secretly finding substitute scholars for Zou Mian's family members and ensuring their silence afterward by killing them, though he claimed Zou Mian was the one who ordered the killings, not himself. He pointed out Zou Mian on the stage. Zou Mian reacted vehemently, questioning Zheng Dun's credibility and threatening him.

Terrified, Zheng Dun suddenly recanted his testimony, claiming that "they" (implying Zhao Buyou and his group) had forced him to lie and frame the Zou family, and that Zou Mian was not involved. This sudden reversal caused a stir among the onlookers. Despite the witness's recantation, which led Wang Fuyin to consider ending the impromptu trial and taking Zou Mian to Kaifeng Court, Zhao Buyou insisted he had physical evidence.

While Gu Zhen and Wan Fu desperately fought off the encroaching Imperial Guard officers to buy time, Zhao Buyou presented a gown. He identified it as the one Zou Ziyin, Zou Mian's daughter, was wearing the last time she met her father, adding pointedly that she likely did not expect that meeting to be her last. Zou Mian vehemently denied the gown belonged to his daughter and maintained that she had died of an illness in prison.

Zhao Buyou then requested the Kaifeng Court coroner publicly announce the true cause of Zou Ziyin's death. Coroner Yao He stepped forward and revealed that Zou Ziyin and her husband Luan Hui had actually died from poisoning, and that their supposed death by illness was merely a cover-up.

Zhao Buyou then produced a small coin-like token engraved with the words "Longevity and Good Health," explaining that Zou Mian had given this token to his daughter, who wore it even as she died by his hand. Zhao Buyou accused Zou Mian of being worse than a beast, someone who didn't deserve to be a father, for killing his own child.

Zou Mian, however, defended his actions, claiming he had convinced Ziyin to commit suicide for justice, portraying it as upholding righteousness and eliminating threats for the Emperor. While the public trial continued, Wan Fu found himself surrounded and overwhelmed by the Imperial Guard officers, but Gu Zhen rushed to his aid, expressing his belief that his purpose was to protect Wan Fu, just as Wan Fu felt his purpose was to protect him.

They fought fiercely to keep the Imperial Guard at bay. Wen Yue, Zhao Ban, and Zhao Mo arrived near the stage and saw the commotion. Wen Yue worried for Zhao Buyou. Zhao Buyou, standing on the stage, declared he was acting as a litigator and explained his personal connection to the victims, mentioning Su Zhi as his wife Wen Yue's father, Dong Qian as the father of his adopted siblings, and Li Yan as his sworn brother's elder brother.

He then formally accused Zou Mian of seven specific crimes: first, covering up the truth and disregarding human life on behalf of Su Zhi's family; second, threatening officials and manipulating the righteous on behalf of Dong Qian's family; third, defying the imperial court and acting recklessly on behalf of Li Yan's family; fourth, pretending to be a ghost and monopolizing land prices on behalf of Sun Bo; fifth, cheating in the imperial examination and hiring assassins on behalf of Song Qiyu; sixth, exchanging power for sexual favors and harming women on behalf of Su and Xie Laoba; and finally, faking auspicious signs, deceiving the public, and flattering the imperial court on behalf of all the people.

Zhao Buyou demanded Zou Mian admit to these crimes. Zou Mian scoffed, calling Zhao Buyou a "lowly worm" and dismissing the victims as contemptible "ants" who deserved their fates for opposing him. He asserted that with the rare stone now delivered, the Emperor's protection was upon him. He displayed an imperial sleeve (symbolizing imperial favor) and commanded the crowd to kneel as if in the Emperor's presence, but many refused.

With Gu Zhen and Wan Fu cornered and outnumbered by the Imperial Guard, Zhao Li stepped forward from the crowd. He confronted Zou Mian, reminding him that the people are the true strength and foundation, even the Emperor fears the heavens, and the heavens are the Emperor's people. He argued that the Great Song was built by countless individual families, and the victims Zou Mian scorned were living human beings.

He questioned who would be next under Zou Mian's tyranny and how the realm could be peaceful if families were unsafe. The crowd loudly supported Zhao Li, shouting accusations at Zou Mian. Seizing the moment, Zhao Buyou addressed the crowd, formally requesting they serve as witnesses in a case he was bringing against Zou Mian in this temporary public court of Kaifeng Court, noting that Zou Mian had already effectively confessed by justifying the victims' deaths.

The people unanimously and enthusiastically agreed. Seeing the overwhelming public support, Wang Fuyin formally accepted the case. Wang Fuyin warned Zhao Buyou of the grave consequences, even a death penalty, for falsely accusing a court official. Zhao Buyou affirmed he understood the risk and accepted full responsibility for the proceedings. Wang Fuyin then ordered that Zou Mian be arrested according to the law and taken into custody at Kaifeng Court.

The crowd erupted in cheers and celebration, spreading the news excitedly while Zou Mian stood frozen in shock. Wen Yue, Zhao Ban, and Zhao Mo made their way towards Zhao Buyou. As Zhao Buyou came down from the stage, he saw Gu Zhen and Wan Fu, bloodied and injured. Wang Yunshang arrived and told Gu Zhen that everything she had done was for him. Gu Zhen reached out to Wang Yunshang, then helped a weary Wan Fu walk away.

As the Zhao family headed home, neighbors surrounded them with praise for Zhao Buyou. Zhao Buyou humbly gave credit to his father, Zhao Li, and their neighbors for their support. Mr. Li, a local scholar, expressed his intention to write about the heroic deeds of Zhao Buyou and Zhao Li in his book. Back home, Zhao Buyou and Wen Yue were visibly affectionate, holding hands even during meals, much to the teasing of Zhao Ban.

One morning, Wen Yue felt nauseous. Zhao Ban, who had learned some medical skills, examined her pulse and diagnosed pregnancy. Wen Yue confirmed she was pregnant and expressed her relief that it had happened now, after the tumultuous events had settled. A local doctor later confirmed the early stage of the pregnancy and prescribed medicine. After these events, the Emperor bestowed upon Zhao Buyou the title "Peerless Litigator."

Zhao Buyou began setting up a stall daily, eagerly recounting the tale of the Mei's Ship case and how Zou Mian was brought to justice, drawing large crowds. Meanwhile, Zhao Li was seen accompanying someone who appeared to be the Emperor in disguise, showing him around the city and sharing stories of ordinary life. Wen Yue, visibly pregnant, looked forward to the arrival of their child.

Yao He came to propose marriage to Zhao Ban, nervously fumbling his words in front of Wen Yue, who was present as an elder figure. Wen Yue encouraged him and gave her approval, contributing to the family's joyous atmosphere, which now included the anticipation of a new baby and an upcoming marriage. Zhang Zeduan, the painter, captured the lives of the Zhao family in his art.

He completed a painting that included all five family members (implicitly including the future child). Zhang Zeduan shared his artistic philosophy, focusing on the common people and the everyday life of the city. Zhao Buyou expressed his hope that Zhang Zeduan's paintings would endure for centuries, allowing future generations to see and know their family and their story.

Zhang Zeduan then asked Zhao Buyou for help in selecting from his numerous paintings to create a single long scroll that could represent the vibrant life of the East Capital. As they reviewed the paintings, they came across one depicting Gu Zhen and Wan Fu at the business center during the confrontation. They decided to make this painting the starting point, the "eye," for the scroll.

This collaborative effort led to the creation of a renowned depiction of life along the river during the Qingming Festival. After these events, a voice was heard reflecting on a failed plan. The speaker lamented their failure and stated they deserved to die, but found fortunate circumstance in Zou Mian's unexpected elimination by the Peerless Litigator. The voice then pondered who would be the next target.